The venue was the brainchild of Australian-born theatre owner and manager Oswald Stoll (1866-1942), who moved to England as a child.

Stoll dreamed of building the biggest theatre in London. After acquiring an acre of prime real estate on St Martin’s Lane, on the edge of Trafalgar Square, he hired renowned theatre architect Frank Matcham to realise his ambition.

The result was the London Coliseum, boasting a 100ft frontage in the Italian Renaissance style and a 145ft tower, topped with an iron revolving globe.

Many of the theatre’s original architectural details remain today, including a bust of Stoll’s mother, Adelaide. Tradition has it that if you donate a pound, stand in front of her and spin three times, you will always see great theatre.