Arts Theatre

Arts Theatre

6-7 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JB

Tucked just moments from Leicester Square, the Arts Theatre is a hidden gem in the heart of London’s West End. Established in 1927 as a private members’ club, it has since evolved into a thriving independent venue renowned for intimate performances, offbeat comedies, and new writing. Despite being the smallest commercial theatre in the West End, its influence is anything but minor.

The Arts Theatre London stands out with its striking red-brick façade and charming arched windows. Inside, the compact yet cleverly designed auditorium offers excellent sightlines across two levels. Its versatility makes it an ideal stage for bold storytelling, fringe-style shows, and cult classics. Winner of Best Theatrical Venue at the Broadway World Awards, the Arts Theatre is a beloved space for performers and audiences alike.

The History of the Arts Theatre

The Arts Theatre London began life as the Arts Theatre Club in 1927, producing unlicensed experimental plays in defiance of theatrical censorship. One of its early successes, Richard of Bordeaux (1932), helped catapult the venue toward commercial prominence. A fire in the 1930s led to a major refurbishment, and by the 1940s, Alec Clunes had turned it into a hub for over 100 productions, earning it the nickname “The National Pocket Theatre.”

In the decades since, the Arts Theatre has hosted children’s theatre, cabaret, comedy, and groundbreaking plays. Legendary director Sir Peter Hall started his career here, and in more recent years, it has become a hotspot for cult shows and bold revivals. Today, it remains a fiercely independent venue, continually championing innovative, boundary-pushing theatre.

Where is the Arts Theatre?

The Arts Theatre is located at 6-7 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JB, just a short walk from Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Nestled in the buzzing heart of Theatreland, it’s easily accessible whether you're arriving on foot, by tube, or by bus.

Nearby landmarks include Leicester Square, Covent Garden Piazza, and the National Gallery. Whether you're grabbing dinner before a show or heading out for post-performance drinks, you'll find plenty to explore just minutes from the theatre.

Arts Theatre Nearest Tube

The Arts Theatre nearest tube stations are:

  • Leicester Square Station (Northern and Piccadilly lines) – 2-minute walk
  • Covent Garden Station (Piccadilly line) – 5-minute walk
  • Tottenham Court Road (Central and Northern lines) – 8-minute walk

From Leicester Square, take the Cranbourn Street exit, turn left onto Charing Cross Road, and the theatre is just off Great Newport Street.

Arts Theatre Nearest Train Station

The closest overground station is Charing Cross Station, approximately a 7-minute walk away. From there, walk up Duncannon Street, cross over into St. Martin’s Place, and follow signs to Leicester Square.

Buses to Arts Theatre

Day and night buses serving the Arts Theatre London area include: 14, 19, 24, 29, 38, 176, N5, N19, N20, N29, N38, N41

The nearest bus stops are on Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue. From there, the theatre is just a short walk down Great Newport Street.

Arts Theatre Accessibility

The Arts Theatre has step-free access to the foyer and Stalls level via a ramp. Wheelchair spaces are available in the Stalls, and accessible toilet facilities are provided. We recommend contacting the theatre in advance to arrange assistance if needed.

Arts Theatre Safety Policy

For the safety and comfort of all guests, bag checks are in operation before entry. Large bags or suitcases are not permitted in the auditorium. Please allow time for security measures when planning your arrival.

Arts Theatre Dress Code

There is no formal dress code at the Arts Theatre—smart casual attire is perfectly acceptable. Most theatregoers wear everyday clothes, but you’re welcome to dress up if you’re attending an evening performance, special event, or premiere. Read our What to Wear article for more information.

Arts Theatre Notable Productions

Over the years, the Arts Theatre has staged a range of standout productions, including Another Country, American Idiot, Avenue Q, Waiting for Godot, and The Toxic Avenger.

Arts Theatre Recent Productions

Recent hits at the Arts Theatre London include The Choir of Man, Six: The Musical (early run), SIX – Live at the Arts, I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical, and Cruise.

Arts Theatre Seating Plan

The Arts Theatre seating plan features a total capacity of 353 seats, split across two levels: 230 seats in the Stalls and 123 in the Circle. Due to the theatre’s compact design, audiences enjoy strong sightlines throughout, though premium seats in the centre Stalls (rows B–H) offer the best Arts Theatre seat view.

Circle Slips provide affordable options for those happy with a side-on view. The intimate layout ensures audiences feel close to the stage wherever they sit, making it a great venue for immersive and character-driven performances. Be sure to read our Arts Theatre Best Seats Guide to help you decide whereabouts to sit.

Arts Theatre Seating Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Hold On To Your Butts is the current production at Arts Theatre. The latest booking period for Hold On To Your Butts at Arts Theatre started 10/12/2024 20:00:00 and runs until 31/08/2025 19:30:00. Tickets for Hold On To Your Butts start at £15 and are available to book now.

The Choir of Man is the current production at Arts Theatre. The latest booking period for The Choir of Man at Arts Theatre started 03/01/2023 19:30:00 and runs until 03/01/2026 19:30:00. Tickets for The Choir of Man start at £19 and are available to book now.

Father Christmas Needs a Wee! is the current production at Arts Theatre. The latest booking period for Father Christmas Needs a Wee! at Arts Theatre started 02/12/2023 10:00:00 and runs until 24/12/2025 09:00:00. Tickets for Father Christmas Needs a Wee! start at £28 and are available to book now.

Arts Theatre is located in London. The full address is Arts Theatre, 6-7 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JB.

There are 353 seats at the Arts Theatre. These are spread across two levels, the Stalls and the Circle.

The Arts Theatre is the West End’s smallest receiving house. The theatre, which shares a space with two cocktail bars, the Covent Garden Social Club on the first floor and the basement, is home to the Covent Garden Cocktail Club, first opened in 1927. 

The nearest tube stations to the Arts Theatre are Leicester Square (Northern Line and Piccadilly) and Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line). 

Yes, The Choir of Man treats some audience members to free beer, whether through pre-show bar celebrations, or the occasional surprise for those in aisle seats. Audience members can also purchase tokens before the show to exchange for a pint of beer on stage 

The smallest West End theatre in London is the Arts Theatre, which holds 350 seats. Other small theatres in the West End include the Fortune Theatre with 432 seats and the Ambassadors Theatre which holds 444 seats.

Getting here

Closest Tube Station

Leicester Square, Covent Garden

Closest Train Station

Charing Cross

Musical

Summer Arts Festival: Putting It Together

Play

Project Juno

Play

Dave Young "No Cutback's On Laughter"!

Musical

Some Girl I Used To Know

Denise Van Outen stars in her new musical play

Play

A Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson

Play

The Tailor-Made Man

Play

Summer Arts Festival: Cheeky Chappie

Play

Park Avenue Cat

Musical

Cemlyn Jones

Play

Woody Sez

Play

All That Fall

Play

The Pajama Men: Just The Two Of Each Of Us

Play

Dice House, The

Play

Summer Arts Festival: Sinful

Musical

Seussical

Play

A Walk On Part: The Fall Of New Labour

Play

Tim Key - Masterslut

Play

Summer Arts Festival: What About Samuel?

Play

American Justice

Play

Triple Espresso

Play

Baggage

Play

Happy Days

Play

Fuddy Meers

Musical

Cecil's Starlight Safari with The Musical Balloon Band

Play

Toyer!

Play

A Guide To Sexual Misery

Musical

Some Small Love Story

Play

Catwalk Confidential

Play

F**cking Men

Play

Shakespeare's Queens & The Madness of King Lear

Musical

Beyond The Fence

Play

Complete Works of Shakespeare

Play

Summer Arts Festival: The Last Lunch

Play

Storytime

Play

Fully Committed

Musical

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

Musical

The Tailor-Made Man

Play

Summer Arts Festival: Shappi Khorsandi

Play

Big Pants & Botox

Play

Red Bastard

Play

All That Fall

Play

Kingmaker

Dance

Summer Arts Theatre: The Arts Dance - An Evening of Contemporary Dance

Play

The Awkward Squad

Musical

The Mystery Of Edwin Drood

Musical

The Golden Voice

Play

Bombshells

Play

The Killing of Sister George

Musical

Summer Arts Festival: Barb Jungr

Play

NotMoses

3.112 reviews

Musical

Shout!

Play

Reduced Shakespeare Company's The Complete World Of Sports(Abridged)

Play

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

Play

Summer Arts Festival: The Girl Who Trod on the Loaf

Play

Summer Arts Festival: The Hat Party

Play

A British Subject

Play

Hurricane

Musical

Drag Divas

Play

That Thing Friday Night

Play

Alternative Comedy Gala

Play

Stig of the Dump

Play

Madness of George Dubya, The

Play

Simon Amstell - Numb

Play

Lilies On The Land

Play

Dirty Great Love Story

4.413 reviews

Awarded a Scotsman Fringe First Award for outstanding new writing, Dirty Great Love Story combines drama and poetry.

Concert

All Or Nothing

4.611 reviews

1965. A new phenomenon erupted out of London’s East End. It was the essence of all that was cool. It was Mod.

Play

Wet Weather Cover

Play

Beautiful Thing

Play

Bette & Joan

Play

Bad Jews

4.2114 reviews

The dark comedy returns to London's Arts Theatre for a limited run

Play

Oleanna

Oleanna returns to London! Tickets for the Arts Theatre run are available now!

Musical

All Or Nothing: The Mod Musical

4.854 reviews

1965. A new phenomenon erupted out of London’s East End. It was the essence of all that was cool. It was Mod.

Play

The Wipers Times

4.870 reviews

Returning to London's West End for 7 weeks only!

Play

Leave Hitler To Me, Lad

Musical

The Giant's Loo Roll

4.02 reviews

Watch out for some frightened sheep, lots of excited children and a fantastic amount of toilet paper in this rip roaring new musical

Play

Santa’s New Sleigh

Meet Santa and take a photo with him on his sleigh - so don’t forget to bring your cameras!

Musical

Lovesong of The Electric Bear

5.02 reviews

Musical

Guess How Much I Love You

5.02 reviews

The adorable hares from the classic children's book make their West End debut this Christmas.

Musical

The Toxic Avenger

4.632 reviews

Prepare to laugh, scream and sing as ‘Toxie’ rocks the house and saves the day!

Concert

The All or Nothing Experience

4.65 reviews

1965. A new phenomenon erupted out of London’s East End. It was the essence of all that was cool. It was Mod.

Musical

Murder Ballad

4.710 reviews

In the true tradition of all great murder ballads, when songs of love-gone-wrong are sung, blood must be spilled. The question is…by whom?

Play

Irvine Welsh’s PORNO

4.56 reviews

The darkly comic PORNO revisits the events of Trainspotting fifteen years later

Play

Rotterdam

4.842 reviews

'No, Alice, I don’t want to become a man, I just want to stop trying to be a woman.’

Concert

THE JUNGLE COMEDY LOCK-IN

A hilarious post-show event with some of London’s top stand-up comedians.

Musical

Frank's Closet

Step into Franks Closet for this extravagant musical making it’s West End Debut.

Play

Gatsby

Musical

American Idiot

4.646 reviews

Musical

Ruthless! The Musical

4.424 reviews

The Off-Broadway show that discovered young performers like Britney Spears and Natalie Portman comes to the West End!

Play

Ruby Wax: Sane New World

4.85 reviews

Musical

Knights of the Rose

4.329 reviews

Legendary classic rock meets Shakespeare, Marlowe and Chaucer