LondonTheatre1

London Theatre: Tickets Reviews | News | West End | Off-West End | UK Touring Productions

Dance Direct Offers
  • Home
  • London Theatre Tickets
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • West End Theatres
      • Matinees
      • Seating Plans
    • Come From Away
    • Dear Evan Hansen
    • Les Miserables
    • Matilda the Musical
    • Pretty Woman the Musical
    • The Lion King Musical
    • The Mousetrap
    • The Phantom of the Opera
    • The Prince of Egypt
    • The Woman in Black
    • Tina the Musical
    • Wicked
  • News
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Ballet
    • Cabaret
    • Children’s Theatre
    • Circus
    • Comedy
    • Dance
    • Immersive
    • Music
    • Musicals
    • Opera
    • Plays
  • UK Shows
    • UK Theatres
    • Ambassadors Theatre
    • Duke of York’s Theatre
    • Fortune Theatre
    • Harold Pinter Theatre
    • Lyceum Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre
    • Richmond Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
    • Piccadilly Theatre
    • Playhouse Theatre London
    • Trafalgar Studios
    • Hotels
      • Broadway
  • Shop
    • Vegan
    • Books
    • Digital
    • Home
    • Clothing
  • EMP
    • Things to Do
    • Experience Days
  • Dancewear

The Playhouse Theatre London West End

The PLAYHOUSE THEATRE

The Playhouse Theatre London
The Playhouse Theatre London in 2010

The Royal Avenue Theatre had its first production on the 11th March 1882 with a revival of Offenbach’s Madame Favart. The prefix “Royal” was very soon dropped from the theatre’s name. Comic operas, burlesques and similar shows remained the main source of entertainment for several years. For much of this time, Arthur Roberts, a very popular star of music halls led the company at the Avenue Theatre.

In the early 1890s the emphasis of productions changed to drama and in 1894 Miss Horniman, the tea heiress, later a pioneer of the repertory movement, anonymously sponsored actress Florence Farr in a season of plays. Unfortunately, the first production wasn’t successful, however Miss Farr persuaded her friend, George Bernard Shaw, to complete his play, Arms and the Man, as a quick replacement which resulted in his first West End production.

It was enough to convince him to drop his music critique in favour of play writing. The theatre re-opened as The Playhouse Theatre on 28th January 1907 with a one-act play called The Drums of Oudh together with a play called Toddles, by Tristan Bernard and Andre Godferneaux.  Since that time the Playhouse has hosted the likes of W S Gilbert, legendary actress-manager Gladys Cooper, the BBC, The Almeida Theatre Company, The Peter Hall Company, and Janet McTeer. In January 2003, Maidstone Productions took over the ownership of the Theatre.

Maidstone Productions, owned by London and Broadway producers Ted and Norman Tulchin, has been behind a number of hit productions on both sides of the Atlantic. In March 2003, the Ambassador Theatre Group took over the ownership of the Playhouse Theatre.

No products were found matching your selection.

London Theatre 1 and London Theatre One are Registered Trademarks Copyright 2021 www.LondonTheatre1.com
By using our website you’re confirming that you’re happy to accept our use of cookies. Here you can find out more about how they are used.
Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising - About Us - App - Newsletter - Contact Us
Customer Helpline: +44 (0)20 7492 1602
As an Amazon Associate our website receives a commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.