Shaftesbury Theatre
210 Shaftesbury Avenue , London , WC2H 8DP

Nearest underground:
Tottenham Court Road (Northern Line, Central Line)

Nearest rail:
Charing Cross

An attractive Edwardian theatre, the Shaftesbury sits on a busy junction at the mouth of the avenue it takes its name from. Before 1962 it was known as The Prince’s theatre, until it was sold to EMI who refitted it and opened it with a fresh name. Its fare has been varied, putting on productions of everything from Shakespeare to musicals, to comedies and light operas.

The Shaftesbury made headlines in 2002, when residents near the theatre complained about the noise from the show Umoja. The council served the show with a notice forcing them to quit and it transferred to the Queen’s. This wasn’t the first time the theatre had been in the news since it opened in 1911. The hippy musical Hair (1968) opened here the day after censorship officially ended, giving audiences the sight of full frontal male and female nudity. Just before its 2000 th performance the ceiling of the auditorium suddenly caved in. The theatre was threatened with demolition and was once again hotly debated, as campaigners rallied to save it. Luckily it won a reprieve and was placed on a list of special buildings, ensuring its survival for now.

What's on at Shaftesbury Theatre

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