Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Catherine Street, London WC2B 5JF

Getting here

Closest Tube Station

Covent Garden

Closest Train Station

Charing Cross

 THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE

The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is a London West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster. The building faces Catherine Street(earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663, making it the oldest London theatre. For most of that time, it was one of a small handful of patent theatres, granted monopoly rights to the production of "legitimate" (meaning spoken plays, rather than opera, dance, concerts, or plays with music) drama in London.

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE HISTORY

The first theatre on the location of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane was built at the behest of Thomas Killigrew in the early years of the English Restoration. Actors appearing at the then-called Theatre Royal in Bridges Street, included Nell Gwyn and Charles Hart. It was destroyed by fire in 1672 and Killigrew built a larger theatre in the same spot, designed by Christopher Wren. Renamed the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, it opened in 1674. This building lasted nearly 120 years, under leadership including Colley Cibber, David Garrick, and Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

In 1791, under Sheridan's management, the building was demolished to make way for a still larger theatre which opened in 1794. An assassination attempt against King George III took place in this rebuilt theatre on 15 May, 1800. James Hadfield fired two pistol shots from the pit toward the King, who was sitting in the royal box. The shots missed by inches, Hadfield was quickly subdued, and George, apparently unruffled, ordered the performance to continue.

On 24 February 1809, only 15 years after its opening, and despite fire safety precautions, the theatre burned down yet again. When encountered drinking a glass of wine in the street while watching the fire, Sheridan was famously reported to have said: "A man may surely be allowed to take a glass of wine by his own fireside." Already on the shakiest financial ground, Sheridan was ruined entirely by the loss of the building. He turned to brewer Samuel Whitbread, an old friend, for help. Whitbread agreed to head a committee that would manage the company and oversee the rebuilding of the theatre, but asked Sheridan to withdraw from management himself, which he did entirely by 1811.

The Theater Royal Drury Lane building that stands today opened in 1812, designed by Benjamin Dean Wyatt on behalf of the committee led by Whitbread. It has been home to actors as diverse as Shakespearean actor Edmund Kean, child actress Clara Fisher, comedian Dan Leno, the comedy troupe Monty Python (who recorded a concert album there), and musical composer and performer Ivor Novello. It opened with a production of Hamlet featuring Robert Elliston in the title role. The new theatre made some concessions toward intimacy, seating 3,060 people, about 550 fewer than the earlier building (though this size is still considered an extremely large theatre). In 1820 the portico that still stands at the theatre's front entrance on Catherine Street was added, and in 1822, five years after gas lighting was installed, the interior underwent a significant remodeling. The colonnade running down the Russell Street side of the building was added in 1831.

Today, the theatre is owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and generally stages popular musical theatre. The present building was Grade I listed by English Heritage in February 1958.

 

Theatre Royal Drury Lane has been called one of the world's most haunted theatres. The appearance of almost any one of the handful of ghosts that are said to frequent the theatre signals good luck for an actor or production. The most famous ghost is the "Man in Grey," who appears dressed as a nobleman of the late 18th century: powdered hair beneath a tricorne hat, a dress jacket and cloak or cape, riding boots and a sword. Legend says that the Man in Grey is the ghost of a knife-stabbed man whose skeletal remains were found within a walled-up side passage in 1848. Not sure where to sit when you visit this iconic venue? Our [Theatre Royal Drury Lane Best Seats and Seating Plan](http://https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/royal-drury-lane-best-seats-and-seating-plan "Theatre Royal Drury Lane Best Seats and Seating Plan") guide will help!  

Theatre Royal Drury Lane Seating Plan

The Theatre Royal Drury Lane Seating Plan

The seating capacity of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is 2,196 over 4 levels: Stalls, Royal Circle, Grand Circle, and Balcony.

Hamza Namira is the current production at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The last booking period for Hamza Namira at Theatre Royal Drury Lane started 02/11/2024 19:30:00 and ended 02/11/2024 19:30:00.

Sandi Toksvig is the current production at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The upcoming booking period for Sandi Toksvig at Theatre Royal Drury Lane starts 13/11/2024 19:30:00 and runs until 13/11/2024 19:30:00. Tickets for Sandi Toksvig start at £73 and are available to book now.

Mem Ararat is the current production at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The upcoming booking period for Mem Ararat at Theatre Royal Drury Lane starts 15/11/2024 19:00:00 and runs until 15/11/2024 19:00:00. Tickets for Mem Ararat start at £53 and are available to book now.

Mozart: Her Story – The New Musical is the current production at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The upcoming booking period for Mozart: Her Story – The New Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane starts 16/11/2024 19:30:00 and runs until 17/11/2024 19:30:00. Tickets for Mozart: Her Story – The New Musical start at £19 and are available to book now.

Much Ado About Nothing is the upcoming production at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The Tempest is the upcoming production at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Disney's Hercules is the upcoming production at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The last booking period for Disney's Hercules at Theatre Royal Drury Lane started and ended .

Public transport is recommended. The nearest tube stations are Covent Garden ( Piccadilly Line), Holborn (Central/ Piccadilly Lines) Charing Cross (Northern/Bakerloo Lines) and Temple (Circle and District Lines). If arriving by train the nearest rail station is Charing Cross Railway Station. However City Thameslink Station and Blackfriars Railway Station are also nearby. The theatre is well serviced by multiple bus stops and lines including the 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 26, 59, 68 76, 87, 91, 168, 171, 188, 341, and 521 from Aldwych Kingsway (Stop F), Aldywch Somerset House (Stop R) and Royal Court of Justice (Stop P). If driving to the theatre the nearest carparks are located in Bloomsbury Square and Lincoln’ Inn Field. There is also an NCP underground car park in Parker Street.

Musical

Frozen The Musical - Pride Performance

Love is an open door!

Musical

One

Concert

Christmas Spectacular 2018

Christmas Spectacular is a cracker of show

Musical

Producers, The

Concert

Katie Melua

Concert

Petula Clark Live In Concert

A repertoire to choose from indeed, as this music legend's over 7 decade-long career

Play

French & Saunders - Still Alive!

Concert

Engelbert Humperdinck

International music legend Engelbert Humperdinck returns to the London stage with a very special show as part of his 50th Anniversary tour,

Musical

Lord of the Rings, The (dinner package)

Concert

Sonheim Gala: Hey, Old Friends

Concert

Dance Power

Musical

Anything Goes

Anything Goes sets sail in London

Concert

The Box

Concert

Kadim Al Sahir

Concert

Beverley Knight

‘Queen of UK Soul’ is back!

Concert

Attraction Present The Box

Concert

Simple Minds

They are back! Be sure to hear their top hit singles "Don't You (Forget About Me)," "Alive and Kicking" and "Belfast Child"

Dance

Golden Age of Dance

An incomparable evening of dance, music and entertainment at the stunning Theatre Royal Drury Lane!

Musical

Lord of the Rings, The

Musical

Chess - The Musical in Concert

Samantha Barks and Hadley Fraser star in the West End return of Chess!

Musical

Treason - The Musical in Concert

The explosive new musical premieres a concert version before a live audience this summer!

Musical

Frozen the Musical

Frozen the musical is set for a West End transfer to Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2020!

Concert

La La Land Live In Concert

La La Land will be experienced like never before in London, accompanied by a 60-piece orchestra!

Concert

Justin’s Band

Are you ready to be part of Justin’s Band?

Concert

The Italian Job In Concert - Film with Live Orchestra

It's ‘The Self Preservation Society’ -a great film experience with live orchestra

Musical

Kinky Boots - The Musical in Concert

Kinky Boots in Concert for one night only!

Musical

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Meet Willy Wonka, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Musical

Evita The Musical in Concert

A breath-taking concert accompanied by the 30-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra

Musical

Love Never Dies The Musical in Concert

Love Never Dies The Musical in Concert

Musical

Wild About You

Wild About You: a new soul-stirring musical adventure in concert!

Concert

Alan Cumming is Not Acting His Age

Alan Cumming is Not Acting His Age in this riotous journey through life's absurdities!

Concert

Pippin

There’s Magic to Do at Theatre Royal Drury Lane this spring!

Musical

Much Ado About Nothing

Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell star in Jamie Llyod's Much Ado About Nothing

Musical

Something Rotten! In Concert

Welcome to the Renaissance

Musical

Oklahoma! In Concert

Oh, What a beautiful celebration!

Musical

Frozen The Musical

Disney's Frozen the Musical is playing at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Musical

Lulu

Dance

Maria Caruso’s Incarnation

Internationally acclaimed dancer, Maria Caruso debuts her new solo show.

Concert

Lucy Thomas

Lucy Thomas makes her eagerly anticipated West End concert debut

Musical

Little Piece of You: An Atypical Musical in Concert

A moving and groundbreaking new musical in concert