Theatre and Opera House, Corporation Street, St Helens

Matcham's theatre of 1889 was severely damaged by fire in 1901, and Matcham was called back to carry out the reconstruction work. It was indicative of the improved structural techniques acquired since the erection of the first theatre that he omitted the front line of columns supporting the balconies and substituted cantilevered iron beams. At the same time the plasterwork was radically altered in concept and detail to the more Baroque forms characteristic of this later date.

Following acquisition by Pilkington's, the glass manufacturers, it reopened as the Pilkington Theatre in 1964, after the total reconstruction of the auditorium and front of house including a new glass facade to replace Matcham’s original front.