The Comedy Theatre
Panton Street, London SW1Y 4DN.

Nearest underground:
Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly Line, Bakerloo Line)

Nearest rail:
Charing Cross

 Intended to rival Gilbert and Sullivan’s Savoy Theatre as a house of comic opera, the Comedy Theatre opened in 1881.  Initially its name was prefixed by ‘Royal’, and suitably its opening performance was attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales.  Unfortunately it would seem that there was never permission for use of the title and in 1884 it became simply, the Comedy Theatre.   

Despite having undergone extensive alterations over the years, its classical frontage by Thomas Verity remains unchanged, with just the addition of a wrought iron canopy.  Inside, it is richly decorated in the French Renaissance style with plenty of gold embellishment. 

The Comedy Theatre played an important role in helping to end the Lord Chamberlain’s censorship of all staged plays.  A private club formed in 1956 at the Comedy Theatre enabled banned plays to be shown to members, such as Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge and Tennessee Williams’ Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.  Eventually the Lord Chamberlain’s office admitted banning such plays was to no effect. 

What's on at Comedy Theatre

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