Theatre Architect. He designed more than 90 theatres in the United Kingdom during a 40 year career, most notably the London Palladium and Victoria Palace in London. He was born in Devon where he became an apprentice at the age of 14 and moved to London when he was 21. There he joined the architectural practice of T J Robinson, whose daughter Maria he married in 1877. His first solo design was the Elephant and Castle Theatre that opened in 1879. Following Robinson’s death he took over the business and continued to design a number of provincial theatres, eventually forming his own practice, Matcham and Co. It is said that in addition to the 90 theatres he designed he was also responsible for the redesign and refurbishment of another 80. It is reported that Alan Bennett the dramatist once said that there was a Matcham theatre in every corner of the UK. Other notable theatres in London that he designed are the Hippodrome, the Hackney Empire and the London Coliseum. He was also responsible for designing the Tower Ballroom at Blackpool Tower. He retired to Southend-on-Sea shortly before the First World War and died a few years later of a heart attack.
Theatre Architect. He designed more than 90 theatres in the United Kingdom during a 40 year career, most notably the London Palladium and Victoria Palace in London. He was born in Devon where he became an apprentice at the age of 14 and moved to London when he was 21. There he joined the architectural practice of T J Robinson, whose daughter Maria he married in 1877. His first solo design was the Elephant and Castle Theatre that opened in 1879. Following Robinson’s death he took over the business and continued to design a number of provincial theatres, eventually forming his own practice, Matcham and Co. It is said that in addition to the 90 theatres he designed he was also responsible for the redesign and refurbishment of another 80. It is reported that Alan Bennett the dramatist once said that there was a Matcham theatre in every corner of the UK. Other notable theatres in London that he designed are the Hippodrome, the Hackney Empire and the London Coliseum. He was also responsible for designing the Tower Ballroom at Blackpool Tower. He retired to Southend-on-Sea shortly before the First World War and died a few years later of a heart attack.
Bio by: Peter Cox
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