Matchless Matcham: theatre architect

Although he received no formal training Frank Matcham was the most prolific theatre architect of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Of the 150+ buildings he was involved with 26 are still fully operational today including the London Palladium, Coliseum, Hackney Empire, Buxton Opera House, Bristol Hippodrome and Belfast Grand Opera House. In this illustrated talk Mark Fox explains why he was so successful in his chosen field exploring several of his most famous buildings and showing how he remains influential to this day.

Mark Fox has spent his whole life in the theatre, beginning young as a performer and director and then going on to spend the last 30 years working in management for the same West End theatre company – owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber since 2000.As a Theatre Historian he is an Honorary Friend of the Theatres Trust, Honorary Treasurer of the Society for Theatre Research, Committee Member of The Club for Acts and Actors (Concert Artistes Association), Lady Ratlings Badge of Merit holder and a member of The Grand Order of Water Rats.