Criterion Theatre

The Criterion Theatre stands in the City of Westminster, just off Piccadilly Circus. Built in 1873, it occupies a sunken site that once held a 17th-century inn. The building’s French Renaissance façade rises above street level, while most of the theatre lies below ground. Thomas Verity designed the original structure, which included a restaurant, dining rooms and a ballroom. The auditorium was later converted from a concert hall, with tiled staircases still bearing composers’ names. Gas lighting and poor ventilation caused early problems, forcing fresh air to be pumped in. The theatre has hosted major figures in British theatre. W. S. Gilbert appeared there in 1874 and again in later years. Charles Wyndham managed the Criterion from 1875, making it a leading light comedy house. In the 1930s, Terence Rattigan’s French Without Tears ran for 1,039 performances. During the Second World War, the BBC used the underground space as a safe studio. More recently, Mischief Theatre’s The Comedy About a Bank Robbery played for years before the pandemic. Inside, the auditorium retains its Victorian charm with an intimate atmosphere. The walls and ceiling preserve original decoration by W. B. Simpson & Sons. The tiled staircases and narrow corridors lead to dressing rooms and exits added during 1883 alterations. The stage has been re-equipped several times, most recently for Titanique, which opened in January 2025. Above the theatre, parts of the old restaurant and ballroom survive, though no longer open to the public.