Theatre Royal Haymarket
Haymarket, London , SW1Y 4HT

Nearest underground:
Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly Line, Bakerloo Line)

Nearest rail:
Charing Cross

Just one of three Grade I listed London theatres, the elegant Theatre Royal Haymarket has had a long life, rising rapidly from its humble beginnings in 1720. Built by a carpenter, John Potter, it was named the Little Theatre and operated without a licence. Early satirical dramas by Henry Fielding criticised the Royal Family and political parties, incensing the establishment and resulting in the notorious Licensing Act of 1737, censoring all plays.

In 1821 architect John Nash completed the building as it proudly stands today, the sight of its Corinthian portico greeting one from St James Square . In its time it has witnessed some ‘firsts’. In 1893 Oscar Wilde premiered his first comedy here, A Woman Of No Importance. It was responsible for introducing the matinee (1873) and even inspired a dictionary entry, the word ‘dreary’ coined from Our American Cousin (1862). A century later, the 1962 School For Scandal, directed by John Gielgud was playing to packed houses. The theatre was sumptuously refurbished in 1994 at a cost of £1.3 million, with handcrafted wallpaper and 1,200 books of 24-carat gold leaf used. It is said it has its own ghost too, that of its legendary 19 th Century manager J. B. Buckstone.

What's on at Haymarket

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