Top 10 longest-running West End Shows
A list of the top 10 longest-running shows in the West End, including the Top 10 longest-running shows currently playing in the West End and the Top 20 longest-running London Theatre shows ever.
West End Theatre History
London theatre is steeped in history, from Shakespeare’s London theatres in the Elizabeth era, to Jacobean, Regency, the roaring Twenties, post War and beyond. This guide explores the history of the theatres themselves, and the practitioners who created London’s theatre and the shows they staged.
Henry James on London Theatre in the 1870s
In the 1870’s acclaimed novelist and essayist Henry James wrote a piece for American journal The Galaxy about London Theatre.
London’s most Haunted Theatres
Discover London’s most haunted theatres as we go on a ghost hunt around the West End’s spookiest venues.
London’s Saville Theatre saved from hotel redevelopment
The building that housed the Saville Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, an architecturally and culturally important building that opened in 1931, has been saved from redevelopment.
London’s top Backstage Tours
Going behind the curtain can be an eye-opening experience. The sheer scale of West End theatres such as Drury Lane, the National or the Royal Opera House is hugely impressive and a backstage tour is a great opportunity to see the hidden world of costume departments, scene-building and technical magic.
London’s top Walking Tours
London is a compact city that can only really be discovered by walking its streets. Experience the incredible history of London by taking a guided walking tour of the city, including Theatreland Walking Tours.
A handy guide on how to research theatre
The V&A museum’s Theatre & Performance section has released a useful document on how to go about researching theatre.
15 October: On this day in 1930… The Apollo Victoria Theatre opened in London
On this day in… 1930 the Apollo Victoria Theatre opened in London
29 September: On this day in 1930… The Trafalgar Studios opened in London
History of the Trafalgar Studios Theatre in London – currently home to East is East – including designer and first production.
24 September: On this day in 1930… The Phoenix Theatre opened in London
History of the Phoenix Theatre in London – currently home to ONCE The Musical – including designer and first production.
Video: Interview with Jamie Lloyd about Richard III
An interview with Jamie Lloyd about his production of Richard III at the Trafalgar Studios
Video: Interview with John Tiffany about Let The Right One In
An interview with John Tiffany about his production of Let The Right One In.
Video: Interview with Sir John Gielgud at 95
Newsnight’s Jeremy Paxman interviews Sir John Gielgud at 95, on the stage of the Old Vic Theatre in 2005.
4 September: On this day in 1930… The Cambridge Theatre opened in London
History of the Cambridge Theatre in London – currently home to Matilda The Musical – including designer and first production.
14 July: On this day in 1834… The Lyceum Theatre opened in London
History of the Lyceum Theatre in London – currently home to The Lion King – including designer and first production.
4 July: On this day in 1821… The Theatre Royal Haymarket opened in London
On this day in… 1821
the Theatre Royal Haymarket opened in London
23 June: On this day in 1960… The Peacock Theatre opened in London
On this day in… 1960 The PeacockTheatre opened
5 June: On this day in 1913… The Ambassadors Theatre opened
On this day in… 1913 The Ambassadors Theatre opened in London
Gresham College Lectures: Theatre and its history
Video lectures about London Theatre history, past and present from Gresham College.
West End Theatre History – Quick Facts about London Theatres
Fascinating facts about the history of London Theatres
7 May: On this day in 1663… The Theatre Royal Drury Lane opened
On this day in 1663… The Theatre Royal Drury Lane opened in London
Video: London Theatres in 1924 and 2014
Filmmaker Simon Smith has created a stunning movie, comparing footage from London in 1924 and London in 2014.
Data: West End Theatre in 2010
Shows performed on the London stage in 2010
Data: West End Theatre in 2009
Shows performed on the London stage in 2009
Data: West End Theatre in 2008
Shows performed on the London stage in 2008
Data: West End Theatre in 2007
Shows performed on the London stage in 2007
Data: West End Theatre in 2006
Shows performed on the London stage in 2006
Data: West End Theatre in 2005
Shows performed on the London stage in 2005
Data: West End Theatre in 2004
Shows performed on the London stage in 2004
J.B. Priestley on West End Theatre management
An extract from J.B. Priestley’s book Theatre Outlook, written in 1946 and published in 1947.
30 April: On this day in 1958… My Fair Lady opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
On this day in 1958… My Fair Lady opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
24 April: On this day in 1889… The Garrick Theatre opened
On this day in… 1889, the Garrick Theatre opened in London
10 April: On this day in 1877… The first human cannonball act in the world was performed in London
There has got to be a first for everything – and that includes human cannonballs! The first ever recorded human cannonball took place at the Royal Aquarium in London on 10 April 1877.
9 April: On this day in 1705… Her Majesty’s Theatre opened
The first Her Majesty’s Theatre opened as the Queen’s Theatre on 9 April 1705. The Phantom of the Opera is now at the fourth theatre on this site.
State of Play: UK Theatre, new audience research from Ticketmaster
State of Play: UK Theatre, new audience research from Ticketmaster
Blue Plaques: Theatre People in London
London’s Blue Plaques are an institution and none more so than for theatre people. Here we take a celebratory tour of theatre blue plaques in London including Oscar Wilde, Noel Coward, David Garrick, Edith Evans and many more.
Free Plays and Drama eBooks on Amazon Kindle
There are literally hundreds of free books available to download in Amazon’s Kindle book store, including a wealth of classic drama and plays.
Useful Theatre Links
London theatre and performance useful links
The Day I Met… Noël Coward
Journalist and author Clive Hirschhorn remembers a meeting with the ‘Master’ Noel Coward in the 1960’s, an immodest encounter in which the man offered an opinion on just about everything.
Women Playwrights in the West End
Maggie B Gale’s excellent book West End Women: Women and the London stage 1918 – 1962 reveals the vital place of women playwrights within West End theatre history.
Data: Women Playwrights in the West End: 1917 – 1960 Complete table
Table listing plays by women on the London stage from 1917 to 1960. Taken from West End Women: Women and the London stage 1918 – 1962 by Maggie B Gale.
Data: Women Playwrights in the West End: 1917 – 1929
Table listing plays by women on the London stage from 1917 – 1929. Taken from West End Women: Women and the London stage 1918 – 1962 by Maggie B Gale.
Data: Women Playwrights in the West End: 1930 – 1939
Table listing plays by women on the London stage from 1930 – 1939. Taken from West End Women: Women and the London stage 1918 – 1962 by Maggie B Gale.
Data: Women Playwrights in the West End: 1940 – 1949
Table listing plays by women on the London stage from 1940 – 1949. Taken from West End Women: Women and the London stage 1918 – 1962 by Maggie B Gale.
Data: Women Playwrights in the West End: 1950 – 1960
Table listing plays by women on the London stage from 1950 – 1960. Taken from West End Women: Women and the London stage 1918 – 1962 by Maggie B Gale.
Apollo Victoria Theatre – History
The history of the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London
Theatre of the month: Apollo Victoria Theatre
A look behind the scenes of the Apollo Victoria theatre
Applause Magazine – October 1996
Applause Magazine – October 1996: Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, Heathcliff, Cliff Richard, Ned Sherrin, Gene Wilder, Globe Theatre, Alan Ayckbourn, Kurt Weill, Lotte Lenya, Ken Livingstone
Applause Magazine – March 1997
Applause Magazine – March 1997: Maria Friedman, Lady In The Dark, Christopher Biggins, Ned Sherrin, Bill Kenwright, Richard Nelson, Constance Cummings, Neil Simon, Ruaidhri Conroy, The Cripple Of Inishmaan, Gerald Kaufman
Applause Magazine – May 1997
Applause Magazine – May 1997: Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, Julie-Alanah Brighten, John Barrowman, Simon McBurney, Theatre De Complicite, Christopher Biggins, Terrence Mcnally, Master Class, Beach Blanket Babylon, Ibsen, Peggy Ashcroft, John Napier and Roy Hattersley
Applause Magazine – August 1997
Applause Magazine – August 1997: Dominic West, Ned Sherrin, Thelma Holt, Clare Rayner, Kathleen Turner, Jubilee, Julie Wilson, Alan Bates, Martin McDonagh
Applause Magazine – September 1997
Applause Magazine – September 1997: Zoe Wanamaker, Simon Russell Beale, Noel Coward, Andre Lewis of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Adam Long
Applause Magazine – July 1996
Applause Magazine – July 1996: Margarita Pracatan, Ned Sherrin, Kevin Whately, English National Ballet, Alice In Wonderland, Larry Adler, Christopher Lloyd, Lyceum Theatre, Googie Withers, Hannah Gordon
The West End stage in September 1994
A snapshot of what was playing in the West End in September 1994, including Sunset Boulevard, Crazy for You, Copacabana, Design for Living starring Clive Owen, Imogen Stubbs in Saint Joan and Ruthie Henshall in She Loves Me
Historic year for West End theatres
West End theatres celebrate important anniversaries this year.
Binkie Beaumont
Hugh Beaumont, famously known as Binkie Beaumont, was one of the most powerful West End theatre managers in his, or any other, generation.