Players' Theatre - Rebuilding The Club

Rebuilding The Club

With the end of the war, Leonard Sachs returned to take up the reins again and was immediately obliged to seek yet another location. Having rented a small flat in Craven Street, he was looking out of a rear window one day at the brick face of the Hungerford Arches under Charing Cross Station, when he faintly discerned the legend "Forum Cinema". Sending Bill Draper, the Stage Carpenter, round to investigate, they found that this 'arch and a half' had indeed been a theatre from 1910 onwards.

During the war, it had been turned into storage for the Army Corps of Cinematography. Of greater importance, was the discovery that here had originally been a music hall called "Gatti's-in-the-Arches" created by the Gatti Brothers, Carlo Gatti and Giuseppe Gatti. (The Gattis had owned two music halls, the other being called "Gatti's-in-the Road" in Westminster Bridge Road). Although this provenance was very exciting, the building had been very neglected and lacked any theatre fittings or equipment.

Enquiries at the War Office put Leonard in touch with a sympathetic Senior Officer who remembered the Players' company's visits to the sites and camps. Orders were given, and the building was released within a matter of days. Players' members and artistes rallied round and, incredibly, the building was open for business within three weeks. For a time, the membership lists over-subscribed, as the club went from strength to strength. New talent was discovered or returned to theatrical life.