Shaw Theatre

The Shaw Theatre is a 446-seat venue in Somers Town, within the London Borough of Camden. It sits inside the Pullman London St Pancras hotel, just off Euston Road. Two large foyers lead to four dressing rooms for up to 60 performers. Backstage facilities include a workshop studio and laundry room. A bar serves drinks and refreshments, and cloakroom and disabled access are available. The building also hosts exhibitions when not staging performances. The theatre opened in 1971 as the Library Theatre, with Barrie Rutter and Paula Wilcox in Zigger Zagger. Early seasons featured Simon Ward and Sinéad Cusack in Romeo and Juliet, and Vanessa Redgrave in Twelfth Night. Notable names from its first years included Ian McKellen, Julia McKenzie and Mia Farrow. Sunday nights at the Shaw drew Judi Dench, Dame Flora Robson and Michael Williams. The venue also worked closely with the National Youth Theatre. Today the theatre is part of the Pullman London St Pancras hotel. It has hosted major figures such as Dionne Warwick, Eartha Kitt and Boy George. Queen rehearsed their Live Aid set here in 1985. After a 2018 fire, crews restored the stage and reopened it later that year. The space is now available for hire by theatre companies, conferences and other events.