UK Travel Guide

Theatres

Theatre Royal (Drury Lane)

This was first built in 1663 (by Thomas Killigrew) when the entrance was from Drury Lane. It is the oldest London theatre which is still in use. During this period, at the time of King Charles II, women were permitted to appear on stage and it was at this theatre that Nell Gwynne (King Charles mistress) first made her stage appearance in 1665. The previous theatre building was destroyed by fire in 1809 even though it was the first to have a fire safety curtain fitted. The existing theatre was built by Benjamin Wyatt in 1812 since when it has become a major venue for staging musicals such as 'Oklahoma', 'My Fair Lady' and 'Miss Saigon'. According to legend the Theatre is haunted by the ghost of a man whose body was found in 1840. One odd tradition, on Twelfth Night each year a large cake is given to the actors at the theatre courtesy of a Robert Baddeley, who died in 1794 … 1996 marked the 200th anniversary.

Located at: Catherine Street, London, WC2

Telephone: 020 7401 9919

Opens: Depends on show

Cost: phone for details of current shows

Closest Subway Station: Covent Garden Station (Click to see more atrraction at this station)