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21-458: The Liverpool Playhouse is a theatre in Williamson Square in the city of Liverpool , England. It originated in 1866 as a music hall , and in 1911 developed into a repertory theatre. As such it nurtured the early careers of many actors and actresses, some of whom went on to achieve national and international reputations. Architectural changes have been made to the building over the years,

42-551: A central column. To the left is a smaller cylinder, cantilevered from a separate column, interlocking with the larger cylinder. Inside the whole is a hollow column containing the stairs. The theatre is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building , having been designated on 14 March 1975. In its description, the list quotes the Architects' Journal of 1968 which says of

63-404: A height of up to four metres. The fountain was controlled by a computer, and during the evenings was illuminated with coloured lights. However, as of 2023, the fountain no longer functions. This Merseyside location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Oculus (architecture) An oculus (from Latin oculus  'eye'; pl. : oculi )

84-475: Is a circular opening in the center of a dome or in a wall. Originating in classical architecture , it is a feature of Byzantine and Neoclassical architecture . A horizontal oculus in the center of a dome is also called opaion (from Ancient Greek ὀπαῖον  '(smoke) hole'; pl. : opaia ). An oeil-de-boeuf ( French: [œj.də.bœf] ; English: "bull's eye" ), also œil de bœuf and sometimes anglicized as ox-eye window ,

105-412: Is a relatively small elliptical window , typically for an upper storey, and sometimes set in a roof slope as a dormer , or above a door to let in natural light . These are relatively small windows, traditionally oval. The term is increasingly used for circular windows (in which case it could also be called an oculus), but not for holes in domes or ceilings. Windows of this type are commonly found in

126-415: Is in three storeys. The central three bays project forward and are surmounted by a broken pediment . On the ground floor the central bays contain three entrances, separated by pillars, which lead to a recessed porch. Over each entrance is an architrave containing a fanlight . The lateral bays contain two round-headed and one flat-headed entrance on each side, over which are three blind round windows. In

147-463: The Buildings of England series the architectural historians Richard Pollard and Nikolaus Pevsner say of the newer section that it is "a spectacular composition" which creates an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation, exactly right for a theatre foyer". Williamson Square Williamson Square is in the city centre of Liverpool , England. It was initially laid out as a residential square in

168-697: The 10th century. In Constantinople 's Myrelaion Church (c. 920), there are two oculi above the stringcourse on both lateral facades. Early examples of the oculus in Renaissance architecture can be seen in Florence Cathedral , in the nave clerestory and topping the crowns of the arcade arches. Since the revival of dome construction beginning in the Italian Renaissance , open oculi have been replaced by light-transmitting cupolas and other round windows, openings, and skylights . They can be seen in

189-478: The 1745 by Mr Williamson. It originally only had buildings on the lower part and the other three parts were not covered. The Liverpool Playhouse stands on the east side of the square, and the other sides are occupied by shops. Formerly the north side was occupied by the Theatre Royal, but this was demolished in 1965. The square also contained a fountain, consisting of 20 jets of water that could rise to

210-670: The Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust Limited was established as a charity, and the theatre re-opened. It is managed jointly with the Everyman Theatre by Liverpool City Council . From 1922 to 1944 the director of the theatre and the repertory company was William Armstrong . According to The Times : Other future stars who learned their craft at the Playhouse under Armstrong included Michael Redgrave , Rex Harrison and Robert Flemyng . Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence worked with

231-417: The company as child actors. Other artistes who gained experience at the theatre include Lilian Braithwaite , Cecil Parker , John Gregson , Clive Brook , C. Aubrey Smith , Richard Burton , Patricia Routledge , Anthony Hopkins , and Richard Briers . The exterior of the older part of the theatre is stuccoed , and it has a slate roof. Its entrance front faces Williamson Square. It has seven bays and

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252-581: The dome of the Pantheon, Rome . Open to the weather, it allows rain and air to enter and fall to the floor, where it is carried away through drains. Though the opening looks small, it actually has a diameter of 8.7 m (29 feet), allowing it to light the building. The oculus was widely used in the architecture of the Byzantine Empire . It was applied to buildings in Syria in the 5th and 6th centuries and again in

273-572: The first repertory in Britain to own the freehold of a theatre. The company spent a further £4,000 (equivalent to £510,000 in 2023) on redesigning and modernising the theatre. The auditorium and the basement foyer were redesigned by Stanley Adshead, the Professor of Civic Design at the Liverpool School of Architecture. The theatre was for many years managed by Maud Carpenter , while Ronald Settle

294-644: The grand architecture of Baroque France . The term is also applied to similar round windows, such as those found in Georgian architecture in Great Britain, and later Greek Revival and Colonial Revival styles in North America, so that must be considered part of the usage. The term initially applied to horizontal elliptical windows, but is also used for vertical ones. The spread is not limited to ecclesiastical architecture. This type of window can also be found in

315-509: The late Romanesque period in the area of secular architecture in the castles of Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, Holy Roman Emperor from 1220 to 1250, ( Castel del Monte , Palazzo San Gervasio , on the donjon in the castle of Lucera, etc.), later also in Renaissance palaces and villas and in the Baroque. The oculus was used in Ancient Roman architecture , one of the finest examples being that in

336-544: The latest being in 1968 when a modern-style extension was added to the north of the theatre. In 1999 a trust was formed, joining the management of the Playhouse with that of the Everyman Theatre . The present theatre on the site was designed by Edward Davies, and opened in 1866. It replaced an earlier theatre called the Star Concert Hall. The present theatre was originally named the Star Music Hall. In 1895 its name

357-420: The middle storey, the bays are separated by pilasters . The three central bays each have a balustrade and a window with a tympanum containing a roundel. Each of the three lateral bays contains a window with a cornice , and a round window above it. Along the top storey are oculi between panelled pilasters. On the summit of each of the two lateral bays is a cupola on a short Tuscan colonnade . Inside

378-470: The older part of the theatre are two balconies supported by cast iron columns. The interior is decorated in Greek Revival style. The newer section is constructed in concrete, and largely faced by glass. On the ground floor are entrance doors. Above this, the building is based around three cylinders. The largest of these starts at the first floor and rises through two storeys. It is cantilevered from

399-456: The older section that it is "significant as an early and rare work by one of the pioneers of the Liverpool School of Architecture, in the Grecian style favoured by the school at that date", and of the newer section that it is "a brilliant concept, joyously realised, which exploits asymmetrical volumes and ever varying spaces yet achieves unity and also balance with the adjoining Victorian façade". In

420-557: Was Musical Director from 1945 to 1971. The theatre was renamed the Liverpool Repertory Theatre, and in 1916 renamed again, as the Liverpool Playhouse. Minor structural alterations were made to the theatre in 1961 and in 1966. In 1968 a modern-style extension was added to the north of the theatre to accommodate new foyers, bars, dressing rooms and a workshop. In the 1990s the theatre company went into liquidation. In 1999

441-558: Was changed to the Star Theatre of Varieties. The theatre was improved in 1898 by Harry Percival with a new auditorium and foyer, and electricity was installed. In 1911 the Liverpool Repertory Theatre Limited was established, with Basil Dean as its "controller and producer". The company could not afford to build a new theatre, and bought the Star Theatre for £28,000 equivalent to £3,600,000 in 2023). This made it

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