Waterloo East Theatre

The Waterloo East Theatre stands in the London Borough of Lambeth, just a short walk from Waterloo station. It occupies one of the old railway arches beneath the tracks, a space transformed into a 150-seat auditorium. The venue opened in September 2010 after actor and producer Gerald Armin decided to turn an unused arch into a theatre. Armin aimed to keep ticket prices low, starting from £10, and introduced a ‘pay what you can’ night for every show. The theatre programmes unexpected and entertaining fare, ranging from new writing to parodies, musicals, plays and comedy shows. In September 2025 it marked its 15th anniversary with a Gala Concert, bringing together familiar and new faces. Waterloo East Theatre has staged more than 200 productions and welcomed over 150,000 audience members. Among its notable shows are Boris - The Musical, which ran in 2017, 2018 and 2021, and Trump the Musical! in 2018. Other highlights include Briefs in 2019, Afterglow in 2019 and 2022, and the European premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s New York in 2021. More recent productions include F**king Men, which played in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The theatre’s policy of affordable tickets and varied programming has kept it popular. Inside, the 150-seat auditorium offers an intimate setting for performances. The space beneath the railway arches gives the theatre a distinctive atmosphere. Visitors find a programme that mixes new writing with musicals, comedy and parodies. The Gala Concert for the 15th anniversary brought together performers and audiences to share memories. The theatre’s location near Waterloo station makes it easy to reach. Its low ticket prices and frequent shows ensure there is always something on stage.