The Hampstead Theatre is a London West End theatre in Covent Garden, the City of Westminster. The Hampstead Theatre seats 2,196 people over four levels: Stalls, Royal Circle, Grand Circle, and Balcony. The Hampstead Theatre , as it stands today was designed by Benjamin Dean Wyatt for the Whitbread committee, and was built in 1812. It has hosted diverse actors such as Shakespearean actor Edmund Kean, child actress Clara Fisher, comedian Dan Leno, the comedy group Monty Python (who recorded a concert album there), and musical composer and performer Ivor Novello. The theatre had first opened with a production of Hamlet. Today, the theatre is owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and occasionally hosts popular musical theatre performances. The current structure of the building was listed as a Grade I building by English Heritage in February 1958. Seating Capacity: 405
About Hampstead Theatre
- Hampstead Theatre can accommodate 325 people in the main auditorium.
- Hampstead Downstairs, the studio theatre, can seat up to 80 people.
- The auditorium is divided into two sections — Stalls on the ground floor and the Dress Circle situated upstairs.
- The Stalls level has a mezzanine floor featuring high stool seats with footrests.
- It’s a small, intimate theatre offering great views of the stage. However, for the best view, book seats in the Stalls.
Opened in 1959, Hampstead Theatre’s journey began in Moreland Hall, a parish church school hall situated in Holly Bush Vale in Hampstead Village. Known as The Hampstead Theatre Club originally, it was founded by British theatre director James Roose-Evans, who was also the theatre’s first Artistic Director.
In 1962, the theatre club moved to a portable cabin in Swiss Cottage. It remained there for about 40 years before a new purpose-built Hampstead Theatre opened in the same area in 2003. The new Hampstead Theatre had a seating capacity of 405 people, including the main auditorium and a studio theatre, which was converted into a laboratory for new writing in 2010.
The Arts Council England removed public funding for the theatre in 2022 after which the then artistic director, Roxana Silbert, resigned.
- Hampstead Theatre is one of the most flexible theatres in London, constructed with designers and directors in mind.
- The outside of the building is covered in a combination of glass, wooden slats, and colourful light panels.
- The seats in the auditorium can be moved around to change its setup. It can be set up in a traditional way with the stage at one end and raised, or in a way that allows the audience to be at the same level as the performance area.
- The front part of the stage can be lifted or lowered to create an orchestra pit. The main part of the stage can also be raised or lowered to change how close the performers are to the audience or to create an angled surface, and it has removable sections to create trapdoors.
- It also has state-of-the-art lighting and sound infrastructure.
- The studio theatre, Hampstead Downstairs, is also flexible, which allows for the setting up of different stage layouts.
Hampstead Theatre has staged several successful productions over the years. A few popular and notable ones include:
- The Dumb Waiter (1960)
- The Room by Harold Pinter (1960)
- Jacques
- The Sport of My Mad Mother
- The Moderate Soprano (2015)
- Caroline, or Change (2018)
Know Before You Go
- Bus: Take bus numbers C11, 13, 31, 46, 113, 187, or 268 to Swiss Cottage (Stop D). The theatre is a 3-minute walk from the bus station.
- Train: Take a train to South Hampstead. The theatre is an 8-minute walk from the station.
- Tube: Take a tube to Swiss Cottage Station and use Jubilee Line Exit 2 to get out. The theatre is a minute’s walk from the station.
- Recommended Mode of Transport: Take a tube to Swiss Cottage Station and then walk down to the theatre. It’s just a minute away.
- Parking: Regency Car Park is the nearest parking facility available. It’s just a 4-minute walk from the theatre. If you’re travelling via bike, stations to lock your bike outside the theatre are available, with the closest located at the end of the venue towards Eton Avenue. Santander Cycles is another docking station located around the corner from the theatre just off Winchester Road.
- Cafe Bar: The theatre is home to a cafe bar where you can enjoy light meals like sandwiches and sausage rolls, wine and other drinks, savoury snacks, sweets, and ice cream.
- Washrooms: Toilets are located on all levels of the theatre.
- Cloakroom: There is a cloakroom available to store your belongings.
- Discounts: Students, patrons under 30 years of age, access guests, senior citizens, and groups can avail of discounted tickets at the theatre.
Visual
- The theatre hosts audio-described performances from time to time for the visually impaired.
- They offer live commentary via personalised headphones for blind or partially sighted patrons. Make sure you let them know that you need access to the audio descriptions at the time of booking so that they can recommend the best possible seats for clear hearing.
- The theatre also provides introductory notes for performances a few days before the show. It also broadcasts the same in the auditorium 15 minutes before the show is due to begin.
- Touch Tours are also available before the Audio Described performance begins, the information for which is shared in advance.
- Hampstead Downstairs, the studio theatre, produces a piece of audio for visually impaired patrons.
- The audio is released two weeks after the show opens and is available through a link on the show page. It contains a detailed description of the set and interviews with the cast about their costumes, characters, and appearance.
Auditory & Speech
- The theatre regularly hosts Captioned Performances for the hearing-impaired. The English text is displayed on a captioning unit above the stage. Please let them know that you need the service at the time of booking so that they can suggest the best seats for the same.
- The theatre has an infrared Sennheiser hearing system in the main auditorium to amplify stage sound.
- It also provides in-ear headsets and hearing loops, which can be collected from the Box Office.
- A live subtitled discussion and Q&A follow such performances. Please stay in your seats after the show if you wish to attend.
- Hampstead Downstairs uses closed captioning technology, which allows patrons with auditory limitations to access the captions via an app on a personal device. Please bring a WiFi-capable device and let the staff know about your requirements so that they can make the necessary seating arrangement.
Motor/Mobility
- The entrance to the theatre is on the ground floor with a push button-controlled door.
- The elevator has level access serving all floors, the auditorium, and the studio theatre. It is equipped with audio announcements, relief controls, low-level controls, and Braille lettering.
- Both the auditorium and Hampstead Downstairs have flat, level access seats.
- Wheelchair-accessible spaces and seats are available inside the main auditorium and studio theatre.
- The Box Office and the Cafe Bar have drop counters for those with reduced mobility.
Others
- The venue also offers companion tickets for disabled patrons who need someone to accompany or assist them. The seats are located right next to the accessible seat ticket.
- There is dedicated staff at the theatre to help you with anything that you might need.
- The venue features accessible toilets at all levels.
- The theatre welcomes assistance animals.
- Book Online: Book your tickets online and in advance to avoid the issue of tickets getting sold out.
- Reach Early: Make sure you reach the theatre at least 30 minutes prior to the show time. Latecomers may not be admitted.
- Photography Policy: Photography, videography, and the recording of audio is strictly prohibited.
- Concession Tickets: Patrons under 30 years of age get to watch all performances for just £10.
- No Outside Food: Food and drinks from outside are not allowed inside the theatre.
Hampstead Theatre Cafe Bar: The theatre’s in-house cafe and bar serves delicious sandwiches, sausage rolls, and other savoury snacks along with wine, sweets, and ice cream.
- Directions
Bradleys: Savour a contemporary European meal made using fresh local produce at this stylish restaurant.
- Directions
to Bradleys
Pasticcio London: This charming Italian restaurant serves amazing farm-to-fork fare, breakfast, and wine.
- Directions
Green Cottage: This restaurant serves delectable Chinese food including soups, noodles, and roast duck.
- Directions
ZZANG: Relish a traditional Korean meal with this eatery’s selection of rice bowls, BBQ, and fried chicken.
- Directions
to ZZANG
Frequently Asked Questions About Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre is located in South Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden.
You can reach the theatre via tube, bus, car, bike, or rail.
Hampstead Theatre predominantly hosts plays and dramas written by emerging talent. Some popular productions include The Dumb Waiter, The Room by Harold Pinter, Jacques, and others.
There are two seating spaces available — Main Auditorium and Hampstead Downstairs, the studio theatre.
Yes. The theatre is accessible to wheelchair users and patrons with reduced mobility or disabilities. There are accessible performances, guide dog allowance, wheelchair spaces, adapted toilets and more for guests with special needs.
The price of the tickets depends on the show that you choose to watch and the timing of the same at the Hampstead Theatre.
You can book your tickets to shows playing at the Hampstead Theatre online at London Theatre Tickets. You will get the best deals and discounts and all the information you need at your fingertips.
Yes. There are several dining options available near Hampstead Theatre like Bradleys, ZZANG, and Green Cottage, to name a few. The theatre itself has a cafe and bar where you can enjoy a meal.
A few attractions you can explore near the theatre include the Hampstead Museum, Freud Museum, the Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds, and Everyman Cinema.
