Theatre Details

Last modified: 15 February 1996

Details of the "Official West End" theatres, i.e. those that are members of the Society of London Theatre. Information includes the box office, agent and group booking contacts as well as details of the nearest tube and the theatre itself. Links to other, more detailed, information are provided for some important venues.

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Theatre Listings

Adelphi
Originally the Sans Pareil built by a merchant called Scott to display the talents of his daughter. Opened on 27 Nov 1806 with Miss Scott's Entertainment. Became the Adelphi in 1819. The original theatre was demolished in 1858 and replaced with a bigger one which, with many alterations, remains, restored to its 1930s form. 1500 seats.
Address: Strand, WC2E 7NA
Agents: 0171 344 0055 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 413 3302 (fee)
Information: 0171 379 8884
Tube: Charing Cross
Key: AC, E, W
Albery Theatre
Originally known as The New Theatre, present name since 1973. 879 seats.
Address: St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4AH
Box office: 0171 369 1730
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr)
Groups: 0171 369 1717, 0171 413 3321
Tube: Leicester Square
Key: AC, E, W
Aldwych
Opened 23 Dec 1905 by Charles Frohman. Used to be the London home of the RSC. 1079 seats.
Address: Aldwych, WC2B 4DF
Box office (cc): 0171 416 6003
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr)
Tube: Covent Garden, Holborn
Key: AC, W
Ambassadors
Opened 5 Jun 1913. The Mousetrap opened here on 25 Nov 52 (a palindromic date - 25/11/52) and later transferred to St Martin's (Mar74). 460 seats. Will be used by the Royal Court from Spring 96 while the Royal Court is re-furbished. Likely to be split in two under a major re-design by William Dudley.
Address: West Street, WC2
Box office: 0171 836 6111
Agents:
Tube:
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Apollo
Opened 21 Feb 1901. 776 seats.
Address: Shaftesbury Avenue, W1V 7HD
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5068
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5550 (24hr), Stoll Moss central box office
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr), 0171 420 0000 (24hr)
Tube: Picadilly Circus
Key: AC, E, F
Apollo Victoria
Built in 1930 as a cinema (New Victoria). 1524 seats +40 standing, (2574 seats but many lost to Starlight Express set)
Address: 17 Wilton Road, SW1V 1LL.
Box office (cc):0171 416 6042
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr), 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 416 6075, 0171 413 3321
Tube: Victoria
Key: AC, W
Cambridge
Built for Bertie Meyer and opened on 4 Sep 1930. 1297 seats.
Address: Earlham Street, WC2 9HU
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5054 (24hr)
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5550 (24hr), Stoll Moss central box office
Agents: 0171 312 1992 (24hr), 0171 344 4444 (24hr), 0171 420 0000
Groups: 0171 413 3321, 0171 312 1970
Tube: Covent Garden
Key: AC, E, W
Coliseum
Opened by Oswald Stoll on 24 Dec 1904. The first London theatre with a revolving stage. Home of The English National Opera (ENO). 2358 seats, the largest theatre in London, built in 1904 and very sophisticated at the time. The globe at the top was meant to revolve, but this wasn't allowed and 'chaser' lights were installed instead. Home of the ENO since 1968. Due for refurbishment.
Address: St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4ES
Box office: 0171 632 8300 (24hr)
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr), 0171 344 4444 (24hr), 0171 637 9041 (fee)
Tube: Leicester Square
Key: AC, E, W
Comedy
Opened 15 Oct 1881 and originally gas lit. 780 seats.
Address: Panton Street, SW1 4DN
Box office: 0171 369 1731
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr), 0171 420 0000 (24hr)
Groups: 0171 413 3321
Tube: Picadilly Circus
Key: AC, W
Criterion
An underground theatre which opened 21 Mar 1874. Excellent original tiled walls to stairs and public areas. 598 seats.
Address: Picadilly Circus, W1V 9LB
Box office: 0171 369 1747
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr)
Groups: 0171 369 1717, 0171 413 3321 Tube: Picadilly Circus
Key: AC, E, W
Dominion
The site was originally that of a brewery. The theatre opened on 3 Oct 1929. 2000 seats.
Address: Tottenham Court Road, W1 0AG
Box office: 0171 416 6060 (24hr)
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 416 6075, 0171 413 3321, 0171 420 0200
Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Key: W
Donmar Warehouse
Re-opened in 1992. Seats 254. Currently having financial problems and seeking support for the coming year.
Address: Thomas Neal's, Earlham Street, WC2H 9LD
Box office: 0171 369 1732
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr)
Tube: Covent Garden
Key: AC, W
Drury Lane
London's oldest theatre still in use. The first theatre on this site was built in 1662 and opened as the Theatre Royal in 1663. Destroyed by fire in 1672 and re-designed by Sir Christopher Wren re-opening in 1674. Forced to close in 1676 as Dorset Garden was more popular. By 1682 London could only support one theatre and a combined company re-occupied Drury Lane. In 1791 the theatre closed and was re-built to a design by Holland, re-opening in 1794. It burned down in 1809. A new theatre opened in 1812 designed by Wyatt and closed in 1878 (bankruptcy). The theatre re-opened in 1879 and has been open ever since, it closed briefly in 1939 but re-opened as the HQ of ENSA, despite being bombed in 1940. The theatre has a lot of history! One odd tradition, on Twelfth Night each year a large cake is given to the actors at the theatre courtesy of a Robert Baddeley, who died in 1794 … 1996 marked the 200th anniversary. 2245 seats.
Backstage Tours are available (approx 90 minutes), information on 0171 240 5357.
Address: Theatre Royal, Catherine Street, WC2B 5JF
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5000 (24hr) (fee)
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5550 (24hr), Stoll Moss central box office
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr) (fee), 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 494 5454 (fee), 0171 413 3311 (fee), 0171 312 8000 (fee)
Tube: Covent Garden
Key: F, W
Duchess
Opened 25 Nov 1929. 476 seats.
Address: Catherine Street, WC2B 5LA
Box office: 0171 494 5075 (24hr)
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5550 (24hr), Stoll Moss central box office
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr), 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee), 0171 379 9901 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 494 5454
Tube: Covent Garden
Key: AC, E, F
Duke of York's
Opened 10 Sep 1892 as the Trafalgar Square Theatre, name changed in 1895. Major refurbishment 79/80. Will be taken over by the Royal Court during their two year refurbishment starting in spring 1996. 650 seats.
Address: St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4BG
Box office (cc): 0171 836 5122, 0171 836 9837
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr), 0171 344 4444 (24hr)
Tube: Leicester Square
Key: AC, E, W
Fortune
First Fortune theatre built in 1600 in Cripplegate as a model of the Globe. Burned down in 1621 and re-built. Closed in 1642, dismantled in 1649 and pulled down in 1661. Current theatre opened 8 Nov 1924. 432 seats.
Address: Russell Street, WC2B 5HH
Box office (cc): 0171 836 2238
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr), 0171 344 4444 (24hr), 0171 379 9901 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 413 3321
Tube: Covent Garden
Key: AC
Garrick
Opened on 24 Apr 1889, funded by W.S. Gilbert. 675 seats.
Address: Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HH
Box office: 0171 494 5085 (24hr)
Agents: 0171 420 0000, 0171 344 4444 (24hr)
Tube: Charing Cross Road
Key: E, W
Gielgud
Originally opened 27Dec 1906 as The Hicks Theatre. Formerly The Globe, renamed in 1994 in part in tribute to Sam Wanamaker, so that his dream of a new Shakespeare Globe would be the only Globe in London. 983 seats.
Address: Shaftesbury Avenue, W1V 8AR
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5530 (24hr)
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5550 (24hr), Stoll Moss central box office
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr)
Groups: 0171 494 5454
Tube: Picadilly Circus
Key: AC, E, F, W
Haymarket
Opened 29 Dec 1720. Closed in 1737 (partly for attacking the government), re-opened 1747. The current theatre opened on 4Jul 1821 and was designed by Nash. The last theatre in London to use candles (1837). 888 seats.
Address: Theatre Royal, Haymarket, SW1Y 4HT
Box office (cc): 0171 930 8800
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee), 0171 344 4444 (24hr) (fee)
Tube: Picadilly Circus
Key: W
Her Majesty's
Has been called Her Majesty's and His Majesty's as appropriate over the years. Originally opened 9 Apr 1705. Was the first English opera house. Burned down, 1789, re-opened 1791. Burned down 1867, re-opened in 1869. Demolished 1890. New theatre opened 1897. RADA originally started here. 1229 seats.
Address: Haymarket, SW1Y 4QR
Box office: 0171 494 5400 (24hr) (fee)
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5550 (24hr), Stoll Moss central box office
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr) (fee), 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 930 6123
Tube: Picadilly Circus
Key: AC, E, F, W
London Palladium
Opened 26 Dec 1910, site was originally a circus. 2317 seats.
Address: Argyll Street, W1A 3AB
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5020 (24hr) (fee)
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5550 (24hr), Stoll Moss central box office
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 494 5454, 0171 413 3311
Tube: Oxford Street
Key: AC, E, F, W
Lyceum
Currently being re-built after a long period dark. Will re-open 1996.
Address:
Box office:
Agents:
Groups:
Tube:
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Lyric
Opened 17 Dec 1888. 959 seats.
Address: Shaftesbury Avenue, W1V 7HA
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5045 (24hr)
Box office (cc): 0171 494 5550 (24hr), Stoll Moss central box office
Agents: 0171 416 6066 (24hr)
Groups: 0171 494 5454, 0171 413 3321, 0171 416 6075, 0171 312 1970
Tube: Picadilly Circus
Key: E, F, W
Royal National Theatre
Info
New London
Very flexible theatre with large foyer. 1106 seats. Address: Drury Lane, WC2B 5PW
Box office (cc): 0171 405 0072, 0171 404 4079
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr) (fee), 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 413 3311, 1071 930 6123
Tube: Holborn
Key: AC, E, W
Old Vic
Originally the Old Coburg, opened 11 May 1818. Re-opened 1833 as the Royal Victoria. Closed in 1880. Re-opened as a Temperance amusement hall in 1880. Damaged by bombs in 1941 it re-opened in 1950. Was the temporary home of the National. 1037 seats.
Address: Theatre Company. Waterloo Road, SE1 8NB
Box office (cc): 0171 928 7616
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr)
Tube: Waterloo
Key: AC, W
Open Air
This open air theatre is only open May to early-September and there is no cover in case of rain. 1187 seats (plus 60 on the grass). Current auditorium since 1975.
Address: New Shakespeare Company, Regents Park, NW1 4NP
Box office (cc): 0171 486 2431, 0171 486 1933
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr) (fee)
Tube: Baker Street
Key: F, W
Palace
Opened under D'Oyly Carte as the Royal English Opera House on 31 Jan 1891. Became the Palace Theatre of Varieties in 1892. Present name dates from 1911. 1400 seats.
Address: Shaftesbury Avenue, W1V 8AY
Box office (cc): 0171 434 0909
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr) (fee), 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee), 0171 379 9901 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 413 3311
Tube: Leicester Square
Key: F, W
Phoenix
Opened 24 Sep 1930. Lots of Noel Coward connections. 1012 sseats.
Address: Charing Cross Road, WC2 0JP
Box office (cc): 0171 369 1733
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr), 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee), 0171 379 9901 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 930 6123, 0171 420 0200
Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Key: W
Piccadilly Theatre
Opened 27 Apr 1928. Used as a cinema for a while, returned to theatre in 1929. 1232 seats.
Address: Denman Street, W1V 8DY
Box office (cc): 0171 369 1734
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr)
Groups: 0171 413 3321 (24hr)
Tube: Picadilly Circus
Key: AC, W
Playhouse
Opened 11 Mar 1882. Damaged in 1905 during re-building by the collapse of the roof of Charing Cross. Re-opened 1907. 790 seats.
Address: Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5DN
Box office: 0171 839 4401
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr), 0171 344 4444 (24hr)
Tube: Embankment
Key: AC, F, W
Prince Edward
Opened 3 Apr 1930. In 1936 became a restaurant-cabaret (The London Casino). In 1939 became the All-Services Club. Reverted to a theatre. Became a cinema for a while from 1954. 1647 seats.
Address: Old Compton Street, W1V 6ZHS
Box office: 0171 734 8951
Agents: 0171 420 0100 (24hr), 0171 344 4444 (24hr)
Groups: 0171 930 6123
Key: AC, E, W
Prince of Wales
Opened as The Princes Theatre in 1884, current name from 1886. Non-stop revue during the 30s. Re-built 1937 and re-opened as a theatre. 1122 seats.
Address: Coventry Street, W1V 8AS
Box office: 0171 839 5987
Agents: 0171 836 3464 (24hr)
Groups: 0171 413 3321, 0171 420 0200
Tube: Covent Garden
Key: AC, E
Queen's
Sister theatre to the adjoining Globe when it opened on 8 Oct 1907. Bombed in 1940, re-opened in 1959. 979 seats.
Address: Shaftesbury Avenue, W1V 8BA
Box office: 0171 494 5041 (24hr)
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr), 0171 344 4444 (24hr)
Groups: 0171 930 6123, 0171 494 5454
Tube: Picadilly Circus
Key: AC, E, W
Royal Court
The first theatre opened as The New Chelsea on 16 Apr 1870. Changed name to Belgravia. Re-opened as Royal Court 25 Jan 1871. Demolished in 1887. New theatre opened (current, slightly different site) 24 Sep 1888. Famous for supporting and commissioning new writing. Will be closing from Summer 1996 for up to two years for refurbishment (see Duke of York's and Ambassador's). Probably the first UK Theatre to regularly include their URL in advertising. Also the Royal Court Upstairs. 395 seats.
Address: Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Box office (cc): 0171 730 1745, 0171 730 2554
Agents: 0171 420 0100 (24hr), 0171 344 4444 (24hr), 0171 836 5122
Groups: 0171 730 5174
Tube: Sloane Square
Key: AC, E, F
Royal Festival Hall
Part of the South Bank complex. Info
Key: AC, E, F, W
Royal National Theatre
Part of the South Bank complex. Info
Key: AC, E, F, W
Royal Opera House
Also known as Covent Garden. Will close temporarily in 1997/8 Info
Address: Covent Garden, WC2E 7QA
Box office (cc): 0171 304 4000
Tube: Covent Garden
Key: E, F, WC
Royal Shakespeare Company
At the Barbican and the Young Vic. Info
Sadler's Wells
On 3 Jun 1683 a Mr Sadler opened a pleasure garden at a country spring, this became known as Sadler's Wells . A wooden stage, later enclosed, there was known as Miles' Musik House. Theatre started in 1753. In 1765 a new theatre was opened. For a period it was the Aquatic Theatre with a floodable tank on stage, reverting to its current name in 1844. Closed in 1878 (had been a skating rink and a boxing ring). Re-opened 1879. Closed in 1906. Lillian Bayliss opened a theatre there in 1931. Lilian Baylis was the niece of Emma Cons, the first woman member of the LCC and the freeholder of the Royal Victoria Hall and Coffee Tavern (now the Old Vic). Became a solely ballet and opera venue in 1934. Sadler's Wells was the original home of the Royal Ballet (then the Sadler's Wells Ballet) and the opera company from here moved on to the Coliseum. Expected to close July96 for two year refurbishment. 1500 seats.
Address: Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN
Box office: 0171 713 6000 (24hr)
Agents: 0171 413 1440 (24hr) (fee)
Tube: Angel
Key: E, F, W
St. Martin's
Opened 24 Nov 1916. 550 seats.
Address: West Street, Cambridge Circus, WC2H 9NH
Box office (cc): 0171 836 1443
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 312 1994
Tube: Leicester Square
Key: AC, W
Savoy
The first public building in the world to have electric light. Built for Richard D'Oyly Carte, opened 10 Oct 1881. 1122 seats.
Address: Strand, WC2
Box office: 0171 836 8888
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr), 0171 416 6023, 0171 344 4444 (24hr)
Groups: 0171 312 1970, 0171 930 6123
Tube: Charing Cross
Key:
Shaftesbury
The first theatre to open in Shaftesbury Avenue on 20 Oct 1888. The original theatre was destroyed by bombs in 1941. A second theatre opened 26 Dec 1911 (originally the Prince's), badly damaged in 1940/41. Changed name to Shaftesbury in 1963. Housed the famous Hair performances in 1968. 1404 seats.
Address: Shaftesbury Avenue, WC1
Box office: 0171 379 5399
Agents:
Groups:
Tube:
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Strand
Opened 22 May 1905, originally the Waldorf, became the Strand in 1909 and the Whitney in 1911, back to the Strand in 1915. On 8 Oct 1940 the theatre was hit during a bombing raid - the show went on! There had been an earlier Strand Theatre where the Aldwych tube station now is that opened in 1832. 1061 seats.
Address: Aldwych, WC2B 5LD
Box office (cc): 0171 930 8800
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr), 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 930 8800, 0171 413 3321
Tube: Charing Cross
Key: AC, W
Vaudeville
Opened 16 Apr 1870. Front re-constructed in 1890. 694 seats.
Address: Strand WC2R 0NH
Box office (cc): 0171 836 9987
Agents: 0171 420 0000 (24hr), 0171 344 4444 (24hr) (fee)
Tube: Charing Cross
Key: AC
Victoria Palace
Built on the site of Moy's Music Hall. Present building dates from 1911. 1527 seats.
Address: Victoria Street, SW1E 5EA
Box office (cc): 0171 834 1317
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr) (fee), 0171 420 0000 (24hr) (fee), 0171 379 9901 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 930 6123 Tube: Victoria
Key: AC, W
Westminster
Originally the St James's Picture House opened in 1923 on the site of an old chapel. In 1931 it was transformed into a theatre. Refurbished in 1986. Food available. 1527 seats.
Address: Palace Street, Buckingham Palace Road, SW1 5JB
Box Office: 0171 834 0283
Tube: Victoria
Whitehall
Opened 29 Sep 1930, on site of the Old Ship Tavern. Famous for the Whitehall Farces (Brian Rix) which started in 1950. 608 seats.
Address: Whitehall, SW1A 2DY
Box office: 0171 369 1735
Agents:
Tube:
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Wyndham's
Opened 16 Nov 1899. 759 seats.
Address: Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DA
Box office: 0171 369 1736
Agents: 0171 344 4444 (24hr) (fee)
Groups: 0171 369 1717, 0171 413 3321
Tube: Leicester Square
Key: AC, E

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