Prince of Wales Theatre

The Prince of Wales Theatre stands in Coventry Street, a short walk from Leicester Square in London’s West End. Built in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, it has been a stage for plays, musicals, revues and films for over a century. The theatre was renamed in 1886 after the future Edward VII and has hosted many first nights, from Gilbert and Sullivan revivals to early musical comedies. In 1937 it became an Art Deco building with seating for about 1,100 and a long stalls bar with a dance floor. Sir Cameron Mackintosh has owned the theatre since the 2004 refurbishment that restored its exterior tower and modernised the auditorium. The theatre’s history includes landmark productions and famous performers. Marie Tempest starred in early hits like Dorothy, while Ivor Novello made his playwriting debut with The Rat in 1924. Gracie Fields laid the foundation stone of the 1937 rebuild, and The Beatles performed at the Royal Variety Show in 1963. Later, Barbra Streisand appeared in Funny Girl and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love ran for 1,325 performances. The theatre also presented Mae West in Diamond Lil and hosted the UK premiere of Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator. Inside, the auditorium seats 1,160 and the refurbished tower glows with new LED lighting. The stalls bar, rebuilt in 2004, remains a social focus. Recent years have seen long runs such as Mamma Mia!, which played for over eight years and 3,500 performances. The theatre’s programme continues to mix new musicals with revivals, keeping the stage alive in the heart of the West End.