- In |
- On October 18, 2024
How many theatres are there in the West End?
There are a total of 39 theatres in the West End but that is only counting official West End venues, There are 241 theatres in London as a whole.
Which West End Theatre is the smallest?
The Arts Theatre, located just behind Leicester Square Station is so small that it only holds 350 people. The theatre is the current home of The Choir of Man. This theatre is closely followed by the Fortune Theatre (Operation Mincemeat) which has 432 seats and the Ambassadors Theatre (Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder!) which has 444.
Which West End Theatre is the biggest?
The London Coliseum on St Martin’s Lane is huge with a grand total of 2359 seats however it is the home of the English National Opera and therefore a non-commercial theatre. This makes the Apollo Victoria Theatre, the home of Wicked, the biggest West End theatre with 2328 seats.
Other big West End venues that have a capacity of over 2000 include the London Palladium, Dominion Theatre, Lyceum Theatre, Prince Edward Theatre, and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Which West End Theatre is the oldest?
Taking the title of oldest West End Theatre is the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which first opened in May 1663, the current home of Disney’s Frozen.
Which West End Theatre is the newest?
@sohoplace opened in October 2022 on Tottenham Court Road and is the first new West End theatre in 50 years. It is currently the home of Death of England.
Who owns the West End Theatres?
The majority of the West End Theatres are owned by Nimax Theatres, LW Theatres, ATG Entertainment, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, and the Nederland Organisation.
Where are the West End Theatres located?
Most of the West End Theatres can be found in ‘Theatreland’, London’s main theatre district and situated in the heart of the West End of London, It is traditionally defined as the Strand to the south, Oxford Street to the north, Regent Street to the west and Kingsway to the east. There are a few other theatres that are still considered to be a part of the West End such as The Apollo Victoria Theatre in Victoria. Famous streets that house the majority of West End theatres are Shaftesbury Avenue, the Strand, and Drury Lane.
Are any of the West End Theatres haunted?
Yes! A couple of West End Theatres are home to a couple of ghostly characters. Most notably His Majesty’s Theatre (The Phantom of the Opera) is thought to be haunted by Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree who was a Victorian/ Edwardian actor-manager. He owned and lived in the theatre back in the day and is now said to haunt the top box, stage right.
Then there is William Terriss, a celebrated Victorian actor who is said to be the ghost of the Adelphi Theatre (Back to the Future). He was murdered by a fellow thespian that he had fired from his role. He was stabbed at stage door, brought back inside, and apparently died on the stage itself, declaring ‘I shall come back’.
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is also said to house the ghost of John Buckstone, an actor, writer, and producer who is to thank for a huge amount of plays, mainly at the Haymarket. He died peacefully at 77 and has been spotted by actors including Judi Dench and Patrick Stewart who are said to have seen him on stage during a performance of Waiting for Godot.
