Shaftesbury Theatre

About the Shaftesbury Theatre

The Shaftesbury Theatre opened on 26 December 1911 as the New Prince’s Theatre, showing a production of ‘The Three Musketeers’. It was soon renamed the Prince’s Theatre and was to be the last theatre built on the historic Shaftebury Avenue in London.

Gilbert and Sullivan enjoyed an 18 week season in 1919 and soon became a regular attraction. Basil Rathbone appeared in 1933 in a revival of ‘Diplomacy’ and in 1962 the building was bought by EMI and renamed the Shaftesbury Theatre.

When part of the ceiling fell down in 1973, the musical ‘Hair’ had to end its run and it looked like the theatre would be sold for redevelopment. However the union, Equity, successfully campaigned for it to become a Grade II listed building in 1974.

‘West Side Story’ was the show to reopen the Shaftesbury Theatre in 1975 and in 2006 it had a major refurbishment. The current show Hairspray: The Musical follows Fame: The Musical, ‘Tommy’, ‘Rent’ and ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’.

OPENED: 26th December 1911
LISTED: Grade II
SEATS: 1,389 on 3 levels
ARCHITECT: Bertie Crewe