The Queen's Theatre

Les Miserables - Information and tickets

The Queen's Theatre was designed as a twin to the Globe Theatre, now called the Gielgud Theatre.

On 24 September 1940 a bomb fell on the theatre destroying the entire front of house area along with part of the rear stalls. The theatre was subsequently used for rehearsals.

The Queen's Theatre then reopened on 8 July 1959 after the front facade and front foyers had been rebuilt with a new modern exterior designed by Brian Westwood and Sir Hugh Casson.

The theatre was refurbished in early 1992.  In 1999 theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh's company Delfont Mackintosh Theatres bought the freehold of The Queen's Theatre and The Gielgud Theatre. A couple of years later Mackintosh took over the leasehold of The Queen's Theatre from Andrew Lloyd Webber's company Really Useful Theatres. Mackintosh is expected to take over the leasehold of The Gielgud Theatre from Really Useful Theatres 2006.

In 2003 theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh announced plans to completely refurbish and re-model both theatres and include a new 500 seat studio theatre to be called The Sondheim Theatre, in honour of the American musical theatre writer Stephen Sondheim. The plan is to provide a shared foyer fronting onto Shaftesbury Avenue and to be located between both exisitng theatres. The Stalls and Dress Circle of The Queen's Theatre would be extended while the Upper Circle would be removed to make way for the new Sondheim Theatre at the top of the building.

The long running musical Les Miserables transferred to The Queen's Theatre on 3 April 2004 from its previous home, The Palace Theatre, a couple of hundred metres up Shaftesbury Avenue.
 

ADDRESS
The Queen's Theatre
51 Shaftesbury Avenue
London
W1D 6BA  - map

Nearest Underground:
Piccadilly Circus - 2 minute walk to the South
Leicester Square - 2 minute walk to the South East

ACCESS
Wheelchairs: Entrance to the auditorium is through the fourth side exit on Wardour Street. Staff will be happy to help.

Hearing Impaired: Infrared headsets available in foyer. Avoid front of stalls.

ADMITTANCE POLICY
Regrettably babies and toddlers will not be admitted to the theatre. Children aged 5 years and over will be admitted and, more specific age limits may apply depending on the production. Children should be able to sit, unaided, in their own seat and be attentive to the performance so as not to distract other paying members of the audience.

Admittance to the auditorium is always at the discretion of theatre management.

NOTE
All tickets sold include a mandatory 75p restoration fee levy. Funds raised are paid directly into a charity specifically assignedfor major theatrical restoration at the Delfont Mackintosh Theatres. Please note the fee is part of the ticket price and not an additional fee.