Piccadilly Theatre London is one of West End’s oldest and largest public theatres. At the time of its construction, the theatre had a whopping 1400 seats in total, which eventually came down to 1193 due to extensive renovations. Initially, the Piccadilly Theatre operated as a cinema hall and made history by premiering the very first talking motion picture in London, The Singing Fool.
Constructed by Bertie Crewe and Edward A. Stone, the theatre’s simple exteriors do a marvelous job of hiding the extravagant Art Deco interior which was designed by Marc-Henri Levy and Gaston Laverdet. Pink, gold, and green are the dominant colours in the bars and foyer, giving the inside of the theatre a vibrant look. While the theatre has been used as everything from a cinema hall to a cabaret restaurant, it’s prominently known for having hosted some of the best plays and musicals in London, such as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Ragtime, A Streetcar Named Desire, Guys and Dolls, and Grease.
Presently, the Piccadilly Theatre is playing host to two stage productions, The Tiger Who Came To Tea and Strictly Ballroom the Musical. If you’re planning on watching either show, you’ll need to find the best seat in the house to make your experience special. Well, that’s exactly what our Piccadilly Theatre London guide has in store for you.
Venue Details
Address: 16 Denman St, Soho, London W1D 7DY, UK
Opened: 1929
Seating Capacity: 1193
Stalls: 549
Royal Circle: 308
Grand Circle: 336
Seating Chart: Check out the Piccadilly Theatre London Seating Plan here.
Now Playing at the Piccadilly Theatre
Strictly Ballroom The Musical
After a super successful revival at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, director Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom the Musical returns to London’s Piccadilly Theatre. The show stars Gemma Sutton and Sam Lips in the lead with music by Luhrmann and Catherine Martin. The book is written by Luhrmann and Craig Pierce and the blockbuster musical showcases worldwide hits from stars, such as Doris Day’s version of “Perhaps, Perhaps” and Cyndi Lauper’s beautiful “Time After Time”.
The Story
Adapted from director Baz Luhrmann’s famous 1992 film of the same name, Strictly Ballroom follows Scott, a competitive ballroom dancer who doesn’t care all that much about following rules. After being teamed up with his left-footed partner Fran, Scott fights against all odds to do what’s right and seek what his heart desires. Follow along as this colorful, joyous musical invites the whole world to dance!
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
David Wood's magical stage adaptation of on Judith Kerr’s special children’s classic, The Tiger Who Came to Tea makes a triumphant return to the West End. The year 2018 also marks 10 years since the story first debuted on stage, and 50 years since the story was published. This popular tale of a hungry animal is perfect for a fun, family-friendly outing since it has been specially adapted for tiny theatregoers. To engage and entertain people of all ages, the show is packed to the brim with songs, fun, and plenty of laughter. If your child has a vivid imagination, bring them to watch this much admired childhood story.
The Story
Sophie and her mum are having a regular day when a massive tiger joins them for dinner. Little did Sophie know that when the doorbell rang at tea time, she’ll be greeted by a great stripey beast. During the course of their tea, the mother and daughter pair realizes that the tiger is far hungrier and thirstier than they could have imagined. What happens when Sophie’s father returns home forms the crux of the rest of the story.
Practical Information
Accessible Seating
The main foyer can be reached by taking 1 step up from street level. For disabled patrons, a step-free access is also available from Sherwood Street. This entrance also has ramp access to the Royal Circle. From the foyer the Stalls are 15 steps down, with 28 steps up to the Royal Circle and 70 up to the Grand Circle.
There are 3 slots available for wheelchair users per performance, all located in the Royal Circle. There is one wheelchair space in Row A, and two in Box C (with companion seats), all located on the left hand side of the auditorium.
Available Facilities
Assistive Listening System: The auditorium has a Sennheiser MobileConnect WiFi sound amplification system installed. MobileConnect uses WiFi to provide clear and high quality audio to a smart device, either through headphones or a necklace for hearing aid users.
Bar: The Stalls Bar is located 22 steps down from the Foyer, while the Royal Circle Bar is 26 steps up from the Foyer. There’s a bar in the Grand Circle section as well which is located 70 steps up. Since all bars have limited seating, plan your intermission break accordingly.
Booster cushions: A small number of booster cushions are available to borrow.
Cloakroom: The theatre is equipped with a cloakroom where you can keep your large items, if any, for the duration of the show.
Guide dogs: To make the experience all comfortable as possible for all patrons, guide, hearing and other working dogs are allowed in the theatre.
Toilets: Women's toilets are 8 steps down from the Stalls and the men's off the Stalls bar is also a further 8 steps. For disabled patrons, there is a toilet next to Box C and the accessible area in the front of the Royal Circle.
Handy Tips
- If you need extra legroom with your seat, book your tickets in the aisle seats or Row P in the Stalls as these have the most legroom.
- In the Royal Circle, Box A and C are classified as restricted view. Avoid booking these seats if the view offered is important to you.
- Hot food is not allowed inside the auditorium and drinks and snacks can only be carried in plastic containers. If you don’t finish your drinks at the bar, please transfer them into plastic cups before taking them to the auditorium.
Getting There
Tube: The nearest tube stations are Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines) and Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines).
Bus: Buses to Piccadilly Circus and Shaftesbury Avenue – 9, 14, 19, 22, 38
Buses to Regent Street – 3, 6, 12, 13, 15, 23, 88, 94, 139, 159, 453, C2
Restaurants near Piccadilly Theatre London
1. Jamie's Italian Piccadilly: This celebrity chef's relaxed Italian chain offers a rustic menu and a delectable antipasti bar.
2. Brasserie Zédel: Experience class at this grand French art deco restaurant with classic brasserie dishes and choucroutes in a 1930s building.
3. SHORYU RAMEN Soho: Visit this chic noodle restaurant for delicious ramen dishes and sake, with an expert sommelier.
4. Mash: This posh and upmarket basement room with a wine wall, serves prime cuts of matured beef and grilled fish dishes.
5. Taro: Simple Japanese ramen, sushi and noodles served at communal tables in a bright, airy dining space.
More West End Guides
For more West End information, here are some helpful quick links!
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