Soho Palace Theatre by Olga Lehmann, ink on paper

This ink drawing is one of several by Olga Lehmann in the collection that document scenes of shelter and bomb damage during the London Blitz (1940–1941).

In this sketch she recorded the devastated environs of Soho in London’s West End. Depicted in the foreground is the Shaftesbury Pavilion / Gaumont News Theatre (established 1912, demolished 1958) which on 17 April 1941 had suffered severe damage from a bombing raid. Located on the corner of Greek Street and Shaftesbury Avenue, the bomb site was redeveloped into a new cinema, now the Curzon Soho. Opposite, the vertical signage 'PALACE' denotes the Palace Theatre. Purchased in 2020 from the Boundary Gallery. Copyright: the artist's estate / RAF Museum.