Savoy Theatre
The Strand , London , WC2R OET

Nearest underground:
Charing Cross (Northern Line, Bakerloo Line)

Nearest rail:
Charing Cross

The name of the Savoy is inevitably tied to that of impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte. He instigated the building of the theatre on land adjacent to what was then the Savoy Palace Hotel, on the Strand . D’Oyly Carte was the driving force behind the partnership of lyricist W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan. Together they produced light operas such as Iolanthe (1882), The Mikado (1885) and The Yeoman Of The Guard (1888). They were immensely popular and Gilbert and Sullivan’s works came to be known as the Savoy operas. Their relationship was fraught with frequent quarrels and many times they refused to work together. Their last collaborations were flops and marked the end of their dominance at the Savoy.

The theatre itself is done out in clean, art deco style, without the fancy frills of many other London theatres of the time. The first public building to be lit by electricity, it drew rapturous applause on its inaugural evening. Over the last century it presented farces, comedies and musicals but returned many times to the operettas originally associated with it. Most recently, an attempt was made to establish a permanent Gilbert and Sullivan opera company here, but was abandoned after just two months due to poor ticket sales.

What's on at Savoy Theatre

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