Fire Destroys London’s Savoy Theater : Blaze: The cause of the fire at the historic building is under investigation. Officials say they will ‘start from scratch’ to reopen the theater.

The historic Savoy Theater, which opened more than a century ago to feature the comic operas of the famed team of Gilbert and Sullivan, was in ruins today after flames fueled by high winds ravaged its exquisite Art Deco interior.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. The theater was between productions.

“The auditorium is completely destroyed,” theater director Julian Courtney said. “The carved panels designed by Basel Ionides were completely destroyed.”

The blaze was reported at 1:39 a.m. and controlled two hours later by 10 fire trucks and more than 100 firefighters, a London Fire Brigade spokesman said.

About 130 guests, including actor Richard Harris, and 61 staff members at the adjoining Savoy Hotel were evacuated. The hotel was not damaged.

“I was rehearsing ‘Henry IV’ in my room when I thought my performance was so electric I burnt the theater down,” Harris quipped.

The theater, designed by C. J. Phipps and financed by impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte, opened in 1881 for the production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas, which are still widely performed and known for their satirical view of British aristocracy and tradition. The theater was the first public building in London to be lit by electricity.

It opened with “Patience,” which was followed by “Iolanthe,” “Princess Ida,” “The Sorcerer” and the one-act favorite “Trial by Jury.”

In 1890, Gilbert quarreled with D’Oyly Carte over the expense of producing “The Gondoliers.” The financier was especially annoyed by a bill of $850 for carpets. Sullivan supported D’Olyly Carte and the musical partnership broke up.

In 1929, the theater was entirely refurbished by F. A. Turwell and the interior redecorated by Ionides.

The three-story theater will reopen, Courtney said. “It’s quite impossible to say when. We’ve obviously got to start from scratch,” he said.