The Grand Theatre, London

The Grand Theatre has been linked with local stories since its opening in 1901, most notably the disappearance of its owner, Ambrose Small. On December 2, 1919, shortly after selling his theatre chain, he left his office and was never seen again. The unsolved case became part of the theatre’s history, with staff later reporting unexplained sounds and sightings of a figure in the balcony often connected to Small.

Renovations in the 1970s added another layer to this story. During renovations, machinery reportedly stopped just before reaching the original proscenium arch. Some linked this to the legend of Ambrose Small. The project preserved key features and later received national recognition for its design.

The theatre’s history also includes a wide range of performers and discoveries connected to the site itself. Early in its use, it hosted major touring productions and well-known stage actors such as Sarah Bernhardt, W. C. Fields, Sidney Poitier, Maggie Smith, and Leonard Nimoy. It has also been linked to Canadian performers such as Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, whose name is used for a rehearsal space. During construction, workers uncovered human remains from an earlier cemetery, an event recorded at the time.