Sir Peter Blake, godfather of British pop art, has revealed his latest work on the stage of the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square.
Appropriately called The Hippodrome, it is a mural of more than 20 artists who have performed at the venue since its launch in 1900 as a circus variety theatre.
The 4ftx10ft canvas also features acts who starred at the Hippodrome during its renowned period as home of the Talk of the Town, including Dame Shirley Bassey, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jr and Sir Tom Jones.
It was commissioned by Simon Thomas, owner of the casino, which will be launched next week after a £40 million renovation.
Sir Peter, 80, right, best known for his cover for the Beatles album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, said: “I thought there was no better way of recalling the history of the building than using images of the people who have appeared here and made it so famous.
“I was fascinated by some of the earliest acts when the Hippodrome was a circus.”
