Apollo Theatre

Apollo Theatre

Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7EZ

Apollo Theatre Safety Policy

Health & safety measures
  • Regular visible cleaning of all touchable surfaces before and after performances
  • Paperless or print at home tickets
  • Availability of hand sanitiser

Getting here

Closest Tube Station

Piccadilly Circus

Closest Train Station

Charing Cross

The Apollo Theatre first opened its doors more than a century ago on 21st February 1901. It is a Grade II building and also one of the most well-known theatres in London’s West End.

Enter the Apollo Theatre

The Apollo Theatre first opened its doors more than a century ago on 21st February 1901. It is a Grade II building and also one of the most well-known theatres in London’s West End. Based on architect Lewin Sharp’s design, Henry Lowenfield - a Polish-born British businessman and theatrical impresario - commissioned the building's construction. When the theatre officially opened, it became the 4th legitimate venue for theatrical performances to be built on the street. The first show at the Apollo was the American musical comedy The Belle Of Bohemia. Located in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, the theatre offers a seating capacity of 775. The grand, tall structure comprises three levels – the Grand Circle, Dress Circle and Stalls. Nimax Theatres currently owns the building.

Its Construction, History, and Owners

The Apollo Theatre is one of the only London theatres to be freehold instead of leasehold. It is also the only fully finished theatre design by architect Lewin Sharp. The venue was named after the Greek deity of the arts and built for the specific purpose of hosting musical theatres. Builder Walter Wallis constructed the building with plain London brick, and the front piece highlights the Renaissance style with T. Simpson’s sculpted stone fascia. The building surrounds a 4-level auditorium, with a first-floor central loggia and three cantilevered balconies. After the demise of Queen Victoria, the theatre became London’s first theatrical venue to be completed in the Edwardian period. Unlike today’s 775 seats, the theatre initially opened with 893 seats. In 1932, Ernest Schaufelberg renovated the theatre and installed a private foyer and an anteroom to the Royal Box.

Before Nimax Theatres bought the Apollo, several different owners ran the venue.

  • 1944: Prince Littler ran the theatre.
  • 1975: Stoll Moss Group became new owners of the theatre.
  • 2000: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group and Bridgepoint Capital bought it.
  • 2005: Max Weitzenhoffer and Nica Burns bought the theatre and created the Nimax Theatres.

Past Productions

In 2013, the theatre’s balcony sitting collapsed during a performance of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, after which it saw a major restoration. On 26th March 2014, the venue reopened with an adaptation of Let The Right One In which was produced by the National Theatre of Scotland.

The Belle Of Bohemia, the first production at the Apollo, ran for 72 performances. John Martin-Harvey’s season followed, which included an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of Two Cities, The Only Way, and A Cigarette Maker’s Romance. Later, from 1920 to 1923, Edward Laurillard and George Grossmith Jr. managed the venue and presented a series of revivals and plays like the stage version of George Du Maurier’s novel Trilby, and H.F. Maltby’s Such A Nice Young Man. In 1928, R.C. Sherriff’s Journey’s End starred Laurence Olivier. The Apollo Theatre has run numerous productions, and its recent hits include Peter Pan Goes Wrong (2016) and Travesties (2017).

Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle is the current production at Apollo Theatre. The latest booking period for Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle at Apollo Theatre started 15/01/2023 19:00:00 and runs until 28/04/2024 19:00:00. Tickets for Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle start at £22 and are available to book now.

John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers - The Play is the current production at Apollo Theatre. The upcoming booking period for John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers - The Play at Apollo Theatre starts 04/05/2024 19:30:00 and runs until 28/09/2024 19:30:00. Tickets for John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers - The Play start at £20 and are available to book now.

Apollo Theatre is located in London. The full address is Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7EZ.

Musical

The Vivienne's Christmas: Up to Snow Good

The Vivienne is coming to the Apollo this Christmas and she's Up to Snow Good!

Musical

Marilyn

Play

Brodsky/Baryshnikov

Do not miss out on the opportunity to see the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov back in the West End!

Play

2:22 A Ghost Story

2:22 A Ghost Story starring Frankie Bridge, Ricky Champ, Clifford Samuel and Jaime Winstone

Play

The Upstart Crow

The Upstart Crow starring David Mitchell transfers to West End's Apollo Theatre

Play

Dear Lupin

Play

The Audience

Play

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Extraordinary staging of an extraordinary 7 Olivier Award winning story of Christopher, a neighbour's dog and a long-kept family secret.

Play

Jerusalem

Sonia Friedman presents the highly anticipated return of Jersualem by Jez Butterworth.

Musical

The Distance You Have Come

The Distance You Have Come starring Alice Fearn!

Play

Cruise

Cruise transfers to the Apollo Theatre for a limited run

Play

The Snail and the Whale

The Snail and the Whale comes to the Apollo Theatre to take us on an adventure around the world!

Play

Find Love, Lose Weight & Live Forever… Without Really Trying!

Dr Chris and Dr Xand of Operation Ouch now have a show for adults!

Musical

Debbie Reynolds: Alive and Fabulous

Play

Country Girl

Play

Dylan Moran

Musical

Julie Atherton: No Space For Air

Musical

Camille O’Sullivan

Play

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Sienna Miller and Jack O’Connell star in the iconic play by the genius Tennessee Williams, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof!

Play

My Night With Reg

★★★★★ ‘The perfect British comedy…. tender and funny’ The Sunday Times

Musical

Divas

Play

Carrie's War

Musical

Idina Menzel

Play

Kean

Play

What You Will

Play

Goat, The

Play

Puppetry of the Penis

Play

Nell Gwynn

Musical

Meow Meow

Play

A Life in the Theatre

Play

Three Days Of Rain

Play

Well

Musical

Satisfaction - The Dance Concert

Play

Fool For Love

Play

Glengarry Glen Ross

Play

Love in Idleness

See Olivier Award winning Eve Best, Anthony Head and Edward Bluemel in this great comedy!

Play

Madness Of George III

Play

Vortex, The

Play

My Trip Down The Pink Carpet

Musical

Big Life

Musical

Dora the Explorer LIVE!

Play

Ross Noble: Things

Play

Summer and Smoke

Summer and Smoke classic American drama

Play

My Brilliant Divorce

Play

Rain Man

Play

Audience With The Mafia

Play

Sleuth

Musical

Urinetown

★★★★★ 'Had me laughing like a drain' Sunday Telegraph

Play

Walking With Ghosts

Gabriel Byrne tells his own story in his own words.

Play

Let The Right One In

An atmospheric evening of eerie vampires and teenage love, full of tension and subversion.

Play

Operation Ouch Live on Stage

CBBC's Doctor Chris and Doctor Xand live on the West End stage

Play

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain - Part Four!

We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone's dead!

Play

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain - Part Five!

Be on the right side of history with cheap tickets for the fifth incarnation of Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain!

Concert

Monday Night at the Apollo

Rosalie Craig, Lucie Jones, Cedric Neal and more scheduled to star in Monday Night at the Apollo this year!

Play

I Believe In Unicorns

Surround yourself with the magic of storytelling in this enchanting adaptation.

Musical

The Go-Between

Legendary Michael Crawford stars in the new musical The Go-Between at the Apollo Theatre

Play

Travesties

★★★★★ 'Tom Hollander is superbly funny' The Independent

Play

Magic Goes Wrong

Mischief Theatre and Penn & Teller bring Magic Goes Wrong to the Apollo Theatre

Musical

West End Musical Love Songs

West End Musical Love Songs blends romantic ballads and West End stars

Play

Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors

It's history, with all the nasty bits left in!

Musical

The Time Traveller's Wife The Musical

A couple is torn apart by time whilst being bound together by unconditional love.