Shaftesbury Avenue 1949 Postcard

A lovely vintage photograph from Wikimedia of Shaftesbury Avenue, taken in 1949 or possibly very early in 1950. The Apollo Theatre was hosting Treasure Hunt, a play by Molly Farrell and John Perry, which was directed by John Gielgud. At the Globe Theatre (now the Gielgud) was Christopher Fry's translation of Jean Anouilh's Ring Round the Moon starring Paul Scofield and Claire Bloom; the director was Peter Brook and the set and costumes were by Oliver Messel. There is some debate about the correct date for the photograph. However, Treasure Hunt at the Apollo opened in 1949 and Ring Round the Moon at the Globe was possibly, at this time, in preview as it did not open until January 1950. The names of Kay Hammond and John Clements can be just be seen on the facade of the Lyric Theatre. Some sources say Hammond and Clements opened in George Farquhar's The Beaux Stratagem at the Lyric in 1949; some say 1950. Others say it opened at the Phoenix Theatre in 1949. Perhaps it started at the Lyric and subsequently transferred to the Phoenix. Whichever, it apparently 'ran longer than any previous classical play in the history of the British theatre', according to Cathy Hartley's A Historical Dictionary of British Women. The Queen's Theatre was bombed in 1940 and did not re-open until 1959 after a refurbishment. [Sources: V&A Museum; Little Stour Books; Rob Wilton Theatricalia; Arthur Lloyd; Wikipedia/Wikimedia]