Wyndham's Theatre

Wyndham’s Theatre stands on Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster. Built at the end of the 19th century by W. G. R. Sprague, it is one of two West End houses opened by actor-manager Sir Charles Wyndham. The building was Grade II* listed in 1960 and now seats audiences on four levels. Its façade was later copied for the London-themed area at Universal Studios in Florida. The theatre opened in November 1899 with a revival of T. W. Robertson’s David Garrick in the presence of the Prince of Wales. The stage has seen many celebrated names and landmark productions. Gerald du Maurier began a fifteen-year association here, and his daughter Daphne later presented her own play on the same boards. J. M. Barrie’s Dear Brutus ran for more than 360 performances in 1917, and Graham Greene’s first play premièred here in 1953. In the 1970s Godspell ran for nearly three years with David Essex and Jeremy Irons in the cast. More recently Maggie Smith starred in Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women, and Madonna made her West End debut in Up For Grabs. Inside, the auditorium retains its ornate Edwardian plasterwork and three tiers of seating. The Dress Circle and Upper Circle overlook the stalls, giving every seat a clear view of the stage. The theatre’s intimate scale makes the actors’ work feel close and immediate. Outside, Charing Cross Road offers bookshops and the buzz of theatreland. The building’s presence marks a century of London theatre history.