Theatre Royal Dury Lane
Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JF

Nearest underground:
Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)

Nearest rail:
Charing Cross

The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is the oldest theatre in London, and according to some, the oldest continuously operating theatre in the world. The present splendid building opened in 1812 as the fourth theatre to be built on the site. Everything connected with this theatre is on a grand scale. The stage and backstage areas are huge and sometimes accommodate a cast of hundreds; the auditorium has over 2,200 seats on four levels; the theatre also has spacious public areas, unlike so many of London’s cramped theatre interiors. There are five bars, the most magnificent, the Grand Saloon on the first floor. And famously, this is the theatre where Nell Gwynn caught the eye of the King. Nell, an orange-seller but also a very accomplished actress, remained the favourite of Charles II until his death: his dying words are said to be “let not poor Nellie starve”. A cosy pub across the road bears the name Nell Gwynn and members of the theatre’s orchestra are to be seen there during the interval, entertaining over 2,000 patrons nightly is thirsty work!

The theatre specialises in musicals, especially big American ones; in recent years its successes have included Hello Dolly, 42 nd Street, My Fair Lady and notably Miss Saigon which ran for 4,263 performances.

What's on at Theatre Royal

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