The Theatre Royal Stratford is an iconic venue with a chequered history. Opened in 1884 it was faced with many difficult times but was made famous by Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop Company from 1953 to 1975. In 1993 it enjoyed yet another refurbishment which renovated and restored the original tongue and groove pine panelling cladding the stalls and was given Grade II * listed status. It glorious deep red colouring and beautiful chandelier (donated by Donald Albery in 1963) is a wonderful evocative setting for variety and drama but with the gently curved rows of stalls seats does not feel like a New York night club.
Cafe Society was an equally ground breaking venue in New York with a difficult history due to the political and social context of its time. The UnAmerican Activities Committee was investigating behaviours in a search for Reds under the bed and the club owners and many artistes were summoned to appear before it. Equally the media were trying to expose the clubs and its owner Barney Josephson. The club operated from 1938 to 1948 and was the first racially integrated jazz club in New York. As the narrator explains this was a time when the great Duke Ellington had to enter the Cotton Club via the kitchen and played in front of entirely white audiences.
