Episode 2 of 2

Opening of the Savoy Theatre

When: 10 October 1881
Where: Savoy Theatre, London
Part of: Savoy Theatre opens, first public building fully lit by electricity

The Savoy Theatre opened in London on 10 October 1881, becoming the first public building lit entirely by electricity using Swan's incandescent bulbs.

Carte bought the site in 1880 for £11,000. Swan supplied 1,200 lamps powered by a 120-horsepower generator. The front-of-house was electrically lit, but the stage remained lit by gas until 28 December 1881 because the first generator was too small.

Sources

Savoy Theatre Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-06

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