Motown the Musical will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour opening at the Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre on 11 October 2018 where it will play until 3 November 2018 before visiting Leeds Grand Theatre (6 – 17 November 2018), Edinburgh Playhouse (20 November – 8 December 2018), Bristol Hippodrome (10 January – 2 February 2019), Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin (5 - 23 February 2019), Manchester Opera House (26 February – 23 March 2019) and Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff (26-March - 6 April … [Read more...]
Shaftesbury Theatre London
Direct from a sensational run in Manchester — where it played to sold-out crowds and standing ovations — the new comedy musical MRS. DOUBTFIRE is ready to dazzle and delight the West End from 12 May 2023!
Out-of-work actor Daniel will do anything for his kids. After losing custody in a messy divorce, he creates the alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. As his new character takes on a life of its own, Mrs. Doubtfire teaches Daniel more than he bargained for about how to be a father.
MRS. DOUBTFIRE has been created by a transatlantic team of award-winning artists, with a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, original music and lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick (the Tony Award-nominated team behind Something Rotten!, along with O’Farrell), direction by 4-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks (Hello, Dolly!), scenic design by David Korins (Hamilton), choreography by Lorin Latarro (Waitress), and music supervision by Ethan Popp (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical).
A hilarious and heartfelt story about holding onto your loved ones against all odds, MRS. DOUBTFIRE is the musical comedy we need right now.
Shaftesbury Theatre
210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8DP
Shaftesbury Theatre Seating Plan
Venue and Travel Information
Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Tube Lines: Central, Northern
Directions from nearest tube: Turn right onto New Oxford Street (past the Dominion) for 200 metres, and then turn right onto Shaftesbury Avenue, where the venue will be on your left 100 metres down.
Railway Station: King’s Cross St Pancras
Bus Numbers: (Tottenham Court Road Station) 8, 29, 55, 134, 176, 242, 390; (Museum St) 1, 19, 25, 38, 98
Night Bus Numbers: (Tottenham Court Road Station) 134, 176, 242, 390, N8, N29, N35, N41, N55, N68, N98, N121, N253; (Museum St) 25, N1, N19, N38, N207
Car Park: Holborn, Selkirk House Museum Street
Within Congestion Zone: Yes
Venue Facilities: Air conditioned, Bar, Disabled toilets, Infrared hearing loop, Toilets and Wheelchair accessible

The Shaftesbury Theatre
The venue was designed for the brothers Walter and Frederick Melville by Bertie Crewe and first opened on 26th December 1911 as The New Prince’s Theatre with a production of The Three Musketeers, and then became the Prince’s Theatre in 1914. It had a seating capacity of 2392 and a stage that had a width of 31 feet 10 inches and a depth of 31 feet.
Located near New Oxford Street the theatre was the last to be built in Shaftesbury Avenue. It had considerable success with an 18 week season of operas in 1919 by Gilbert and Sullivan, which were presented by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. These became frequent entertainment at the venue in the 1920s, interspersed with runs of productions transferred from other venues. The popular Basil Rathbone performed at the Prince’s Theatre in May 1933 when he played the role of Julian Beauclerc in a revival of Diplomacy. A revival of The Rose of Persia played at the theatre in 1935 with The D’Oyly Carte returning in 1942.
The theatre was bought by EMI in 1962 and was named the Shaftesbury Theatre the subsequent year. Broadway productions transferred to the theatre in the 1960s including the musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1962), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1963) and Little Me (1964).
Part of the ceiling collapsed on 20th July 1973, forcing the closure of the long-running musical Hair, after 1998 performances. The theatre almost fell victim to subsequent redevelopment, but a successful campaign by Equity resulted in the theatre being placed on the ‘Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest’, and in March 1974 the theatre was Grade II listed by English Heritage.
The theatre reopened with the musical West Side Story a year later. Shows in the 1980s included They’re Playing Our Song (1980) and Follies (1987). The 1990s included Kiss of the Spider Woman (1992), Eddie Izzard: Definite Article (1995) and the musical Rent (1998). During the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in the late 1990s, the theatre was used as an alternative venue for performances including Benjamin Britten’s Paul Bunyan.
Motown The Musical London welcomed Jackie and Tito Jackson
On 15th June 2017 at the Shaftesbury Theatre Jackie and Tito Jackson surprised the audience as they joined the cast of Motown the Musical after a performance of the West End hit production. On stage, The Jacksons met with Motown the Musical’ s Raphael Higgins-Humes, Samuel Nicholas, Jay Perry, Simon Ray Harvey and Wilson Kiiru who play The Jackson Five, Cedric Neal (Berry Gordy) and Lucy St Louis (Diana Ross). Gordy signed The Jackson Five to Motown records in 1969 when they released their … [Read more...]
Interview with Obioma Ugoala from the cast of Motown The Musical
Obioma Ugoala has recently joined the cast of Motown The Musical in the role of Smokey Robinson. The full cast is as follows at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End. Obioma Ugoala (Smokey Robinson) joins Cedric Neal as Berry Gordy, Lucy St. Louis as Diana Ross and Sifiso Mazibuko as Marvin Gaye, who lead the cast of Motown the Musical. They are joined by Keisha Amponsa Banson as Mary Wells, Cindy Belliot as Anna Gordy, Samuel Edwards as Jackie Wilson, Tanya Nicole Edwards as Florence … [Read more...]
Motown the Musical Review London Shaftesbury Theatre
There are a couple of hotly anticipated shows that are planned to open in London’s West End this year and I was lucky enough to go and see the first of these Motown the Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre. The show starts in 1983 where recording artists are coming together to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Motown Records. The only person missing from the celebrations is Mr Berry Gordy Jnr (Cedric Neil) who is at home feeling a bit sorry for himself as he thinks back to how he started the … [Read more...]
Motown the Musical Opening Night at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Last night (8th March 2016) marked the opening of the West End production of Motown the Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre. With music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue and book by Motown founder Berry Gordy, Motown the Musical is directed by Charles Randolph-Wright. Last month, due to public demand, a further 200,000 tickets were released for sale taking bookings at the Shaftesbury Theatre to 18 February 2017. V.I.P. guests included Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson and Mary … [Read more...]