Legendary West End box office manager Edwin Shaw dies aged 88 [Updated]

UPDATED – 21 March 2025: Edwin Shaw’s funeral will take place on Thursday 3 April at 1pm at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden. Everyone welcome. No premium seats. And afterwards for champagne at the London Palladium. In lieu of flowers, Edwin’s charity of choice is Prostate Cancer Research. Donate here.

Edwin Shaw, who enjoyed a 60+ year career within the West End theatre industry, has passed away aged 88.

Edwin Shaw was box office manager at the London Palladium for 22 years, and became a senior ticketing executive at Stoll Moss Theatres and Really Useful, and then a consultant for entertainment businesses including LW Theatres and See Tickets.

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A friend and mentor to many in the theatre industry, including theatre owners, producers and stars, Edwin began his career in 1957 as a 21 year old Box Office Clerk at Sheffield’s Empire Theatre, part of Moss Empires, before being asked by Lord Delfont to run the box office at the Palladium in 1968.

In 2017, Edwin Shaw was named one of the Olivier Awards’ inaugural “Be Inspired Champions”, nominated by LW Theatres (see video).

In 2024, Edwin Shaw received an honorary Olivier Award to celebrate his amazing career in the industry.

The Society of London Theatre paid a tribute to Edwin, saying that, “We will fondly remember Edwin for his cheery good humour, mischievous anecdotes, and total honesty. Yet, what stood out the most was his genuine love for live entertainment and his desire to share his passion and knowledge with everyone around him. Our thoughts are with Edwin’s friends and family during this difficult time. Edwin’s contributions will forever be woven into the fabric of our industry, and he will be sorely missed. A true legend of theatreland.”

West End Producer David Pugh said in 2017 when Edwin was nominated that: “He’s a golden asset to the great and the good of theatreland, not least because he can smell a hit and unfortunately sometimes a flop!”

LW Theatres will dim its lights at all of its theatres at 7pm on 3 April 2025 in memory of Edwin Shaw. The theatres are the Adelphi Theatre, Cambridge Theatre, Gillian Lynne Theatre, His Majesty’s Theatre, London Palladium and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

UPDATES: First published 5 March 2025; Updated 21 March 2025

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Main photo: Edwin Shaw (Screenshot)