What did W. G. R. Sprague black plaque do at Shaftesbury Ave?

The Story

# The Globe Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue Standing before this elegant façade on Shaftesbury Avenue, you're witnessing one of W. G. R. Sprague's most enduring theatrical legacies—a building that opened its doors in 1906 as the "Hick's Theatre" but would become known as the Globe, a third reincarnation of that legendary Bankside name. At the height of his career as London's most sought-after theatre architect, Sprague designed this playhouse during the Edwardian era's golden age of entertainment, crafting a space that was neither a mere imitation of Shakespeare's original nor a Victorian relic, but a thoroughly modern theatre equipped for the sophisticated audiences of the 20th century. Here, over more than a century, audiences have experienced everything from serious dramatic works to celebrated comedies, proving Sprague's belief that a well-designed theatre could serve both the artistic ambitions of playwrights and the hunger of ordinary Londoners for quality entertainment. For Sprague, this commission represented the culmination of his architectural vision—to create intimate spaces that enhanced performance while maintaining the grandeur expected of a West End venue, making this Shaftesbury Avenue address a monument to his influence on how theatre itself was experienced in London.