Piccadilly Theatre
The Piccadilly Theatre is nestled just off London’s bustling Piccadilly Circus. The theater was built by Bertie Crewe and Edward A. Stone for Edward Laurillard and opened in 1928. Its basic exterior hides a lavish Art Deco interior planned by Marc-Henri Levy and Gaston Laverdet, with an auditorium adorned in tones of pink. The bars and foyer, including the original light fixtures, are dominated by gold and green. Over the decades, it has hosted everything from ballet and opera to major musicals like Grease, Jersey Boys, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical. The Piccadilly Theatre Seating Plan will help you find the best seats in the theater.
About Piccadilly Theatre
- There are a total of 1185 seats at Piccadilly Theatre the seating is divided into three sections - Stalls, Royal Circle, and Grand Circle.
- The Stalls provide a great view of the stage, with an inclined seating arrangement.
- From Row F and beyond, however, the overhang from the Royal Circle may impede visibility; nonetheless, this section of seating is steeply sloped to ensure optimum views.
- The Grand Circle has inclined seats with limited legroom.
Piccadilly Theatre Seating Plan >
The Piccadilly Theatre made its debut in April 1928 with a production of Blue Eyes.Subsequently, Warner Brothers converted the theatre into a movie house to showcase the first talking picture shown in England - Al Jolson's The Singing Fool.
During World War II, the building was severely damaged and had to be restored before it could reopen in April 1945 with a presentation of Agatha Christie's Appointment with Death. The Piccadilly Theatre has seen many stars perform on its stage, thanks to ITV's variety show titled Live From the Piccadilly which ran from 1986 onwards and was hosted by Jimmy Tarbuck. Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Barbara Dickson, Lynn Redgrave, Julia McKenzie and Dame Edna have all made appearances in its productions.
- Designed by Bertie Crewe and Edward A. Stone, the theatre's façade hides an opulent Art Deco interior.
- The impressive façade’s exterior features eleven bays - with the right-hand end curving at the junction of Sherwood and Denman Streets. While it appears to be made of stone, it is constructed from white cement.
- At ground level, there is an arcade beneath a projecting canopy, while the two storeys are held together by giant pillars and an entablature.
- The interior has a stunning foyer with walnut wood panels and the auditorium has two balconies and a square architrave-framed proscenium.
- In 1979, a movable ceiling was installed to reduce capacity but removed again later.
- In 2017, the theatre was refurbished, restoring the dome ceiling and installing a new chandelier to match the original 1928 design.
The theatre opened with many memorable plays such as The Singing Fool with Al Jolson, The Student Prince, and Folly to be Wise. The 1960s featured an array of successful shows at the theatre, including Broadway: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , Man of La Mancha, Very Good Eddie, and A Streetcar Named Desire.
The longest-running show of all time was 2007's Grease by David Ian and Paul Nicholas. Currently, the theatre is home to Moulin Rouge!, the popular musical based on the book by John Logan.
Know Before You Go
- Bus: The following bus routes pass through the theatre -
6, 12, 23, 88, 94, 139, 159 and 453. - Rail: The nearest station is Charing Cross Station.
- Tube: The closest tube station is the Piccadilly Circus station ( served by Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines)
- Parking: Car parking facilities are available at NCP London Soho Brewer Street and Q-Park Leicester Square.
- Bars: The Stalls, Royal Circle, and Grand Circle bars are located at different levels in the theatre, with the Stalls bar being 22 steps down from the Foyer, the Royal Circle bar 26 steps up, and the Grand Circle bar 70 steps up.
- Booster Cushions: There are a limited amount of booster cushions that can be borrowed.
- Cloakroom: The theatre has a cloakroom available for guests to store large items during the show.
- Toilet: Male and female toilets are available on all three levels of the theatre.
Visual:
- Audio description is available for patrons with visual impairments - headsets can be provided and seating allocated accordingly.
- Touch tours may be available before the performance for patrons with sight impairment.
- For those who require a closer view of the stage, we suggest seats in Row C of the Stalls.
Auditory & Speech:
- Captioned performances with words of dialogue and songs on screens are available for those with hearing impairments. The Royal Circle offers the best visibility of the caption boxes.
- Signed performances are available, with an interpreter on stage interpreting dialogue and songs in British Sign Language
- Infra-Red/Mobile Connect sound amplification system transmits high-quality audio to smart devices/ headphones/ hearing loop necklace. The system is most effective when seated in front of the Stalls and Royal Circle.
Motor/ Mobility:
- Accessible seating is located in Rows A, B, C, and D of the Royal Circle. Row A provides step-free access, while Rows B, C, and D require ascending a few steps to reach the seats.
- To reach the Stalls, there are 22 steps from the theatre foyer. Additional legroom is available in Row P as well as seats D1, D28, H1, H28, K1, and K30.
- Seating can be allocated and reserved for wheelchair users, along with one companion seat upon request.
Others:
- Accessible toilets are available either in the champagne bar or near the entrance to the backstage lounge.
- The nearest car park, NCP, is situated on Brewer Street and is a five-minute walk from the Theatre with step-free access.
- Working dogs, including guide and hearing dogs, are permitted in all areas of the theatre and can be taken care of by the theatre staff during the performances upon request.
- Clothes: Make sure your clothes are neat and comfortable.
- Facade: Visit the theatre in the evening to catch a glimpse of the glistening theatre front lit by numerous bulbs.
- Best Seats: Book seats in the rows G-H to get excellent views throughout the show.
- Restaurants: There are some great restaurants near the Piccadilly Theatre, in the Soho and Chinatown neighbourhoods. Be sure to check them out.
- Opening Time: The general opening time at the Piccadilly Theatre is 10:00AM to 07:30PM. It is recommended that you reach early to have a rush-free experience at the theatre.
The Queens Head Piccadilly: This British Pub is said to serve one the finest collection of beers and wine. Additionally, one can grab gluten-free and vegetarian options here.
- Directions
Brasserie Zedel: The restaurant serves European cuisines with ample vegetarian and gluten-free options. The authentic Parisian decor and lavish seating makes it worth the visit.
- Directions
Dirty Bones: Wanting to have American-style food in London? Worry no more, as you can opt for some chicken and waffles or lamb fries here at the Dirty Bones in Soho.
- Directions
to Dirty Bones
Kricket Soho: Featuring Indian cuisine, you can relive the flavour of authentic masala here, along with a great ambience.
- Directions
to Kricket Soho
Frequently Asked Questions About Piccadilly Theatre
Piccadilly Theatre is located just off Shaftesbury Avenue. It is bang in the centre of the West End and Theatreland.
You can reach Piccadilly Theatre via train, bus, tube, or car.
Piccadilly Theatre has staged several productions including musicals, ballet, plays, and operas. A few notable ones include The Singing Fool, Very Good Eddie, and A Streetcar Named Desire, among others.
There are three seating sections available - Stalls, Royal Circle, and Grand Circle. With its inclined seating alignment, the Stalls section offers great views of the stage.
Yes. Piccadilly Theatre is accessible to people with reduced mobility.
The price of the tickets depends on the show that you choose to watch and the timing of the same at the Piccadilly Theatre.
You can book your tickets to shows playing at the Piccadilly 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 quite a few dining options available near Piccadilly Theatre such as Brasserie Zedel, Kricket Soho and more.
There are quite a few attractions near Piccadilly Theatre that you can explore before you go for a show. Some of these include Green Park, St James’s Park, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
