Sixty years ago the Mermaid Theatre opened its doors. This wasn’t just any theatre. It was a revolution. Built on the site of a bombed-out warehouse near Blackfriars Bridge the Mermaid was unique. It was the first new theatre in the City of London in centuries. More importantly it was one of the first to ditch the traditional stage. Instead of a proscenium arch the audience surrounded the stage on three sides. Imagine the intimacy the energy.
Bernard Miles a renowned actor and his wife Josephine Wilson poured their hearts and souls into this project. They raised money through public subscriptions and even publicity spots for the Egg Marketing Board. Their original Mermaid Theatre was a barn in St John’s Wood. It hosted plays concerts even an opera with Kirsten Flagstad. But this Puddle Dock location was something truly special.
The Mermaid opened in 1959 with Lock Up Your Daughters a huge success. Many other celebrated productions followed including Cowardy Custard which is said to have revived interest in Noël Coward’s work. Bernard Miles himself starred in many productions most notably as Long John Silver in Treasure Island. The theatre even ran the Molecule Club educating children about science. Sylvia Plath even read her poem Tulips there.
Sadly the Mermaid’s story isn’t all smooth sailing. A property company bought it in the 1980s. Their plans for redevelopment led to the theatre’s decline. Bernard Miles’ tenure ended abruptly. He and Josephine died destitute. The theatre closed. Despite a preservation campaign it was slated for demolition.
Today the Mermaid building still stands. It’s no longer a theatre. It’s a conference centre. But the legacy of Bernard and Josephine Miles remains. The Mermaid Theatre a unique space a symbol of theatrical innovation a reminder of a time when creativity thrived in the heart of London. The Mermaid’s spirit endures a testament to the power of theatre and the passion of those who brought it to life.