The Old Mercury Theatre


The Old Mercury Theatre

This was the first ever home of the National Ballet.

Location: Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3BT

Description: The Old Mercury Theatre has a long and interesting artistic and social history. The building has been through several incarnations, most recently as a small and extremely well known London theatre until its closure in the 1980s. However, before it was a theatre the site was the first ever home of the National Ballet.

Once the home of Ballet Rambert and the Ballet Club, saw many stars and prodigy's pass through these halls including the film star Audrey Hepburn.

Themes: TheatreTheatre Theme  CelebrityCelebrity Theme  DanceDance Theme
The Old Mercury Theatre

This was the first ever home of the National Ballet.

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Credits: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2004/12/13/bthagan11.xml

10» My late father Reginald Letch, worked at the Mercury as a stage hand for Madame Rambert. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers him working there I think before and after WW2. (Paul)
Posted by Paul on 2011-09-16
Dear Maureen, you must remember this, I worked with you, babysat for you in Krefeld and visited you in Preston on Tees (?) how are you? I love Rambert, it is a fantastic institution, I know Mark Baldwin as he is a New Zealander as well! and I have Fiona King visiting me here in Shetland. Email me on matthewvl@hotmail.com (Put Krefeld in the subject line) Be lovely to hear from you!!! Matthew (Matthew Lawrence)
Posted by Matthew Lawrence on 2010-09-02
Hi Maureen!! I too was in Krefeld!! I remember you. Would love to here what youre up to. Fiona King (Fiona King)
Posted by Fiona King on 2010-08-17
I also attended the rambert ballet school very early 70s and would love to know what it is being used for now. i have very fond memories especially dame marie rambert walking through tahe ballet classes ,how amazing was that. would love to hear from anyone that was there ,my maiden name is maureen dougan i went on to dance in krefeld germany with annabel and frank crozy. (maureen braun)
Posted by maureen braun on 2010-05-25
I also attended the rambert ballet school very early 70s and would love to know what it is being used for now. i have very fond memories especially dame marie rambert walking through tahe ballet classes ,how amazing was that. would love to hear from anyone that was there ,my maiden name is maureen dougan i went on to dance in krefeld germany with annabel and frank crozy. (maureen braun)
Posted by maureen braun on 2010-05-25
A Mercury Theatre performance of Swan Lake starring Moira Shearer features in the Powell/Pressburger ballet classic The Red Shoes. The music is played on gramaphones and theres a lovely tricky moment when one record ends and the other has to begin in perfect sync. (Matahari)
Posted by Matahari on 2010-03-10
I too was at Ramber in the late 1970s just prior to the move to Chiswick. I would love to know too, if the building is still standing and if so what it is being used for. I last heard they run junior ballet classes there? (fiona king)
Posted by fiona king on 2009-08-13
I also remember the Mercury Theatre as the Rambert Ballet School in the 70s. A most unusual building! Yes, it sure did look like it had been a church at one time. The stage was also _really_ tiny. What is it used for now? (yrret)
Posted by yrret on 2008-09-15
I remember going to ballet school at the Mercury Theatre in the 70s. Between the front and back studios there was a corridor consisting of a maze of doorways with arched tops. It was like a labyrinth. I was only 14 at the time and found it an adventurous place. I remember many of the teachers - Daphne Minton-Senhouse, Ann Clark and of course Angela Ellis, Marie Ramberts daughter. I will always remember the mixed smell of fresh paint, coffee and Estee Lauder perfume. The Mercury Theatre holds many fond memories for me. (Tina Rix)
Posted by Tina Rix on 2008-06-14
The Old Mercury Theatre holds many memories especially as the studio and theatre of Madame Marie Rambert but my interest alerted from a Rambert site was that the small theatre was originally a church. as a Grt Grt Aunt of mine founded a school for young women in a small church at Notting Hill I was wondering if you have any information from the 1800s regarding the Church. My ancestor Harriet Brewer was sent to America and helped found the Calvery Church in Baltimore Your site is unusual and I enjoyed my visit. (Leigh Brewer)
Posted by Leigh Brewer on 2007-11-26

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