Harold Pinter Theatre

The Harold Pinter Theatre stands in Panton Street, a narrow thoroughfare between Leicester Square and the Haymarket in the City of Westminster. Built in 1881 as the Royal Comedy Theatre, it was designed by Thomas Verity in painted stucco and brick and opened in just six months. The exterior follows classical lines, while inside the auditorium retains its original three tiers of horseshoe balconies from 1881. The interior decoration was described by The Era as Renaissance style, finished in white and gold with maroon plush boxes. The theatre originally seated 1,186 across stalls, dress circle, boxes, amphitheatre, pit and gallery. The theatre’s history reflects London’s changing tastes. It began with comic opera under Alexander Henderson, then moved through farce, Shakespeare and avant-garde seasons. In the 1950s it became a platform for plays banned by censorship, presenting premieres of Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams and others. In 2011 it was renamed in honour of playwright Harold Pinter, whose own double bill The Lover and The Collection was staged here in 2008. The building was Grade II listed in 1972, recognising its place in theatre history. Inside, the auditorium remains largely unchanged since 1881, with its three curved balconies and classical detailing. The stalls and upper levels still show the original colour scheme of white, gold and maroon. The stage has hosted major revivals and premieres, from Molière’s The Misanthrope with Keira Knightley to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard. Behind the scenes, the theatre’s long corridors and dressing rooms carry the echoes of generations of actors and productions.