Frank Matcham was an English architect specialising in the design of Theatre’s during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. His surviving work in London alone, include The Lyric Hammersmith (1895) Hippodrome (1900), Hackney Empire (1900), Shepherd’s Bush Empire (1903), London Coliseum (1904), and London Palladium (1910). His final major commission in the capital before retirement being the Victoria Palace (1911). During Matcham’s 40-year career, between 1873 - 1913, he was responsible for the design and construction of over 90 theatre’s, and the redesign and restructure of a further 80 throughout the British Isles.

Matcham was born in Newton Abbot, Devon, which is the hometown of ‘The Theatre Architect’ (Musical) creator Steve Wreford. The Musical tells the story of Frank Matcham’s life, from his apprenticeship days, learning his trade in Torquay with George Bridgman Builders and cutting his teeth in designing a theatre within Issac Singer’s Oldway Mansion in Paignton, through to his move to London to advance his career.

As well as celebrating Matcham’s volume of work creating theatre’s with beautiful individually designed auditoriums from Belfast to Bristol; Aberdeen to Ashton-upon-Lyne and Derby to Dublin, the show also demonstrates his technical advancements in safety, sight-lines and comfort. Boasting new patents for his canter-lever steel girders, ventilation systems, and panic-bolt door releases. The show also features his close working relationships with theatre entrepreneurs, work colleagues, craftsman, and his devoted family.

The show starts in the year 2000, when 10,000 Frank Matcham architectural drawings are unearthed during the restoration of the London Coliseum. Which begged the question, ‘Who was this man’ - Frank Matcham? We quickly move to the Victorian and Edwardian periods, using cleverly selected Music Hall songs from the era, coupled with 13 original songs, to enhance the story. Full scale company numbers echoing epic songs from musicals and opera, sit alongside both uplifting, and heart-breaking solos and duets.

This Musical tells the story of a man who from humble beginnings, and with no formal training, but with a real passion and energy for his craft, became the most successful and prolific builder of theatre’s in the UK. We look to give Frank Matcham the star treatment within a theatrical setting that he would have very much have appreciated and enjoyed.

Something of the Author The Theatre Architect (Musical)

Steve Wreford has turned his hand to writing musical theatre presentations over the past few years, having spent a lifetime appearing on stages across the South West of England.

His professional theatre work include South West tours (Garth Productions) of The Broadway version of The Pirates of Penzance, as Frederick; Annie - The Musical, as Rooster Hannigan; And Oklahoma! playing Will Parker.

Steve has a real passion for the world of theatre and as well as performing, has directed a number of productions - most recently ‘A Right Royal Variety Show’ commemorating, Her late Majesty, The Queen Elizabeth II, 70th Jubilee; Ladies Down Under; And Sleeping Beauty, all creative successes in Devon.

Steve has tread the boards in a number of plays, cabarets and murder mysteries over the years, but his heart is in musical theatre, where he has played the central role of Jesus, in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter, Riff in West Side Story at The Theatre Royal, Plymouth, and the role of Curley in Oklahoma! at the The Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple and The Hall for Cornwall in Truro, to name just a few.

Having written the script to support the musical presentation Travel Notes in 2019, Steve has gone on to co-write the highly successful - Frank’s Final Redemption, a two-hander musical - telling the life story of Frank Sinatra, which he also directed and performed the central role at the Ice Factory Theatre, again to critical success.

Having carried out research on Frank Matcham via various biographical and architectural sources, along with visiting a number of his surviving theatre’s over the past few years; Following breaking his leg at the end of March 2024, and confined to his home in a plaster-cast, he took the opportunity to put pen to paper and write The Theatre Architect (Musical) in honour of Frank Matcham who hails from Steve’s own home town of Newton Abbot in Devon.