Sabah on a mural signed by Yazan Halwany on the facade of the Assaf building, formerly known as the Horseshoe building. (Credit: Rayanne Tawil/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Inside the Piccadilly Theatre, time seems to have stopped in the era it was built in.Closed to the public, the venue bears the marks of years of neglect, but has lost none of its grandeur: A massive chandelier hangs from the dome, red curtains frame the stage, and columns line the sides. Dust covers much of the space, but it does little to diminish the power of the architecture.Designed by William “Willy” Sednawi between 1963 and 1966, the Piccadilly Building was one of Hamra’s cultural landmarks at the time. Its theater, which seats about 700, hosted numerous stars, including Fairuz and Dalida, as well as major artists from across the Arab world. In the 1960s and 1970s, it helped define Beirut’s cultural scene.For a few minutes, the group stands in silence, gazing up at the spectacle above them.Visitors walk around the hall, turn toward...
Inside the Piccadilly Theatre, time seems to have stopped in the era it was built in.Closed to the public, the venue bears the marks of years of neglect, but has lost none of its grandeur: A massive chandelier hangs from the dome, red curtains frame the stage, and columns line the sides. Dust covers much of the space, but it does little to diminish the power of the architecture.Designed by William “Willy” Sednawi between 1963 and 1966, the Piccadilly Building was one of Hamra’s cultural landmarks at the time. Its theater, which seats about 700, hosted numerous stars, including Fairuz and Dalida, as well as major artists from across the Arab world. In the 1960s and 1970s, it helped define Beirut’s cultural scene.For a few minutes, the group stands in silence, gazing up at the spectacle above them.Visitors walk around the hall,...