Book excerpt: Peek behind the curtains of London's iconic theatres with acclaimed actor Simon Callow as your personal guide. This richly illustrated exploration of the most remarkable London theatres features witty and engaging texts by actor Simon Callow, whose knowledge of the city's dramatic venues is intimate and wide-ranging. One of the most prominent photographers of the past 50 years, Derry Moore, captures the theatres from every angle, whether it's a velvet box seat at the Novello, the view from the Theatre Royal, Haymarket's proscenium, or the grand entrance of the foyer in the Apollo Victoria. Exquisite close-ups of architectural elements--such as flamboyant Rococo Baroque friezes, William Edward Trent's Art Deco mermaids, painted marble pilasters, and elaborately framed mirrors--highlight often unnoticed features and present each theatre's unique character. From the West End to the South Bank, Westminster to Hackney, the theatres profiled here come to life in ways we rarely see, when the seats are empty and the stages silent.