Ballet Webb: Saturday Unusual Name?

Saturday Unusual Name?

In the world of the performing arts there are many interesting and unusual things. Often these things become lost to history.

A case in point is the Donmar Warehouse in London. Today the Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, non-profit theatre in Covent Garden that first opened on July 18,1977. But originally, the building was an 1870s extension of the Woodyard Brewery founded in 1740. Later, the vat room was used briefly as a movie studio and then a warehouse for storing and ripening bananas.

Ian Albery leased part of the old brewery in 1960. He provided services for theaters and for shows produced by his father, Donnald Albery. Later, he acquired the space of the old banana warehouse as well, opening the Donmar Rehearsal Theatre that was used by many companies including London Festival Ballet and the Beatles.

Now, about the name Donmar. Some sources https://database.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/3089-donmar-warehouse

say it is a combnation of the names of Donald Albery and his wife (using her middle name Margaret). Other sources https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/20-amazing-theatre-facts_34626.html

say it is a combination of Donald Albery’s name along with ballerina Margot Fonteyn.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Unusual Secret #142:

“The Donmar Warehouse was named for Donald Albery and Margot Fonteyn -maybe.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWy68VxXuDY

Quote of the Day:

“Names have power.”
― Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

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