Venue Information
Palace TheatreAddress: 109-113 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1V 8AY
Nearest Underground or Train Station: Leicester Square (Northern line, Piccadilly line)
Nearest Buses: 14, 19, 24, 29, 38, 40, 176
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What's on at the Palace Theatre?
Frequently Asked Questions
Access phone number: 0330 333 4815
Access email address: access@nimaxtheatres.com
Accessible toilets situated: Stalls
Number of Wheelchair spaces: Stalls x3
Sound amplification: Induction Loop & Williams Sound Infrared
Access from street to foyer: Stairs
Access from theatre foyer to seats (number = stairs): 23 to Stalls from Foyer, 30 to Dress Circle, 49 to Grand Circle, 70 to Balcony
Level access: Stalls
Stair lift, lift or ramp available: N/A
Palace Theatre Facts
What date did the Palace Theatre open?
31 January 1891
Who designed the Palace Theatre?
Richard D’Oyly Carte
What was the first production at the Palace Theatre?
Arthur Sullivan's Opera Ivanhoe
Other Palace Theatre facts
Originally named the The Royal English Opera House; converted in 1892 into a variety Theatre and renamed the Palace Theatre of Varieties
Palace Theatre NewsMore >
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Theatre History
The Palace Theatre is an outstandingly late Victorian theatre, which was built for Richard D’Oyly Carte,producer of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, as a home for his English grand opera.
It was designed by Thomas Edward Collcutt and opened as the Royal English Opera House in January 1891 with a huge production of Arthur Sullivan’s opera Ivanhoe. D’Oyly Carte then leased the theatre to Sarah Bernhardt for a season, and then sold the opera house within a year at a loss.
Following this, the theatre was then converted into a grand music hall and renamed the Palace Theatre of Varieties, first managed by Sir Augustus Harris and then Charles Morton.
In 1897, the theatre began to screen movies, and then in 1904 Alfred Butt became manager and continued to combine variety entertainment, including dancing girls, with films.
Notable productions include musical comedy No, No, Nanette (1925), The Marx Brothers in 1931, performing selections from their Broadway shows; The Sound of Music (1961) running for 2,385 performances; Jesus Christ Superstar (1972 – 1980); Les Misérables (1985) ran for 19 years at the venue; Monty Python’s Spamalot (2006); Priscilla Queen of the Desert (2009); and Singin’ in the Rain (2012).
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened in 2016.
Theatre Previous Shows
Past shows that have played at the Palace Theatre include:
Wonderment Magic & IllusionWest End Musical Celebration - Live at the Palace Theatre
Adam Kay: Twas The Night Before Christmas
Jimmy Carr: Terribly Funny
Eddie Izzard: Force Majeure Reloaded
Derren Brown: Miracle
The Commitments
Brainiac Live!
Derren Brown: Infamous
Singin' in the Rain
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