Trafalgar Theatre

Trafalgar Theatre

14 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DY

Trafalgar Theatre Safety Policy

Health & safety measures
  • Paperless or print at home tickets
Visitor measures
  • Cash free venue - contactless payments only

Getting here

Closest Tube Station

Charing Cross Underground Station

Closest Train Station

Charing Cross

About Trafalgar Theatre (formerly known as Trafalgar Studios)

Trafalgar Theatre is a West End theatre located in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, in the City of WestminsterLondon. The Trafalgar Theatre auditorium has a seating capacity of 630. Trafalgar Theatre has a reputation as one of London’s most exciting new venues. Previously known as Trafalgar Studios between the years 2004 and 2020, the West End theatre recently changed its name to Trafalgar Theatre after announcing it had been converted back into its former single-space venue as a result of a multi-million-pound restoration project. 

The first major show to run at the newly renamed Trafalgar Theatre since the coronavirus pandemic has yet to be announced, but is expected to be a huge deal. Despite the venue being renowned for its former, unique development that boasted two intimate, flexible, and dynamic performance spaces (Studio 1 and Studio 2), the newly reconfigured, single-space auditorium will provide even more flexibility than ever before, allowing the theatre to stage socially distanced shows as needed and larger productions when possible in order to adapt to an ever-changing theatrical environment. The new conversion also takes the theatre back to its roots and original heritage design. 

Before the Trafalgar Theatre we know today became known as Trafalgar Studios in 2004, it bore the name Whitehall Theatre from the years 1930 to 2004. During the Trafalgar Studios era from 2004 to 2020, Studio 1 (the larger of the two spaces) could hold a maximum of 380 seats and opened on 3 June 2004 with the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of OthelloStudio 2, with a capacity of 100 seats, opened in October 2005 with the play Cyprus. Studio 2 generally featured innovative and more experimental work from both national and international companies before Studios 1 and 2 were once again merged into a single auditorium in 2020.

Trafalgar Theatre's history in a nutshell

The original Whitehall Theatre, built on the site of the 17th century Ye Old Ship Tavern, was designed by Edward A. Stone, with interiors in the Art Deco style by Marc-Henri and Laverdet. The theatre opened on 29 September 1930 with The Way to Treat a Woman by Walter Hackett, who was the theatre's licensee. In November 1933, Henry Daniell appeared there as Portman in Afterwards. Hackett presented several other plays of his own before leaving in 1934, and the theatre built its reputation for modern comedies throughout the rest of the decade. 

During World War II, it housed revues, which had become commonplace entertainment throughout the West End. In 1942, The Whitehall Follies featuring Phyllis Dixey — the first stripper to perform in the theatre district — opened with great fanfare and became an immediate success. Dixey leased the theatre and remained in it for the next five years. 

A series of farces, presented under the umbrella title The Whitehall Farces by producer Lord Brian Rix, were staged over the next twenty-two years, with many of them televised. In 1969 a nude revue called Pyjama Tops took over the venue and remained for five years, after which the building was shuttered. 

After considerable refurbishment that retained most of its Art Deco features, it reopened on 5 March 1986 with a successful revival of J. B. Priestley's When We Are Married. Subsequent productions included When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout; The Importance of Being Earnest; The Foreigner; Run For Your Wife; Absurd Person Singular; Travels with My Aunt; tributes to Patsy ClineRoy Orbison, and the Blues Brothers; and solo performances by Ennio Marchetto and Maria Friedman.

The theatre was Grade II listed by English Heritage in December 1996, noting "The auditorium has a decorative cohesion and prettiness rare in theatres of its day, and has the best surviving original fabric of this type of theatre".

Between the years 1997 and 1999, the theatre was converted into a television and radio studio used primarily to broadcast Jack Docherty's popular talk show and BBC Radio 4's Live from London. It then returned to theatrical use with such productions as Three SistersPuppetry of the Penis, "Art", Rat Pack Confidential, and Sing-a-Long-a-ABBA, before its owner, the Ambassador Theatre Group, announced the building would be reconfigured into a double-auditorium venue and reopen with a new name: Trafalgar Studios (now Trafalgar Theatre as of 2020).

Past productions at Trafalgar Theatre include Sweeney ToddAlan Bennett's The Old Country, an adaptation of Jane Eyre, and Bent. Trafalgar Theatre also helped make history in 2018 when it staged Natasha Gordon's acclaimed play Nine Night, becoming the first-ever play by a Black-British playwright to be staged in London's West End. The play went on to pick up the 2019 Black British Theatre Award for Best Supporting Female Actor in Play (Michelle Greenidge) at the Inaugural BBTAs.

Trafalgar Theatre amenities and facilities

After being restored to its original heritage design with a single-space auditorium and changing its name, Trafalgar Theatre now boasts brand-new seats, a new Stalls bar, a new spacious foyer, and improvements to the toilets in order to offer theatregoers a more comfortable and pleasant experience. The new launch as Trafalgar Theatre has been able to bring the venue's capacity up to 630 seats to match those of such major medium-sized West End venues as the Vaudeville Theatre (690 seats) and the Duke of York's Theatre (640 seats). The new, single auditorium now has seats on 2 levels: the Stalls and the Dress Circle.

The Trafalgar Theatre Seating Plan

Trafalgar Theatre was reconverted into a single auditorium space in 2020 after operating as a double-studio venue for nearly two decades. As a result, the stage is now larger whilst the theatre itself is capable of hosting larger audiences (up to 630) and staging bigger productions.

People, Places and Things is the current production at Trafalgar Theatre. The upcoming booking period for People, Places and Things at Trafalgar Theatre starts 03/05/2024 19:30:00 and runs until 10/08/2024 19:30:00. Tickets for People, Places and Things start at £25 and are available to book now.

A Mirror is the current production at Trafalgar Theatre. The latest booking period for A Mirror at Trafalgar Theatre started 22/01/2024 19:30:00 and runs until 20/04/2024 19:30:00. Tickets for A Mirror start at £37 and are available to book now.

We recommend using public transport to access the theatre. The nearest underground station to Trafalgar Studios is Charing Cross Station (Barkerloo/ Northern Lines). If arriving by train the closest rail station is Charing Cross. The theatre is also well serviced by bus lines 3, 6, 11, 12, 12, 23, 24, 83, 87, 91, 139, 159, and 453. If driving to the theatre, the nearest car park is the Q-Park Trafalgar.

Trafalgar Theatre opened on 29 September 1930 as Whitehall Theatre. The venue changed its name to Trafalgar Studios in 2004 after it had been converted into a double-auditorium theatre before it was changed in 2020 to Trafalgar Theatre and became a single-space venue again.

Trafalgar Theatre is located at 14 Whitehall, Westminster, SW1A 2DY. The nearest tube station is Charing Cross whilst the nearest British Rail station is Charing Cross.

Trafalgar Theatre's seating capacity is 630 after Trafalgar Studios 1 and 2 were merged in 2020 to create a single auditorium, which now has 2 levels: the Stalls and Dress Circle.

The Whitehall Theatre changed its name to Trafalgar Studios in 2004 after the venue was reconfigured to have two separate auditoriums: Trafalgar Studio 1 and Trafalgar Studio 2. The name of the West End venue was once again changed in 2020 to Trafalgar Theatre after announcing it would be converted back to a single auditorium, with its grand re-opening scheduled for Spring 2021.

The most recently staged shows at Trafalgar Studios (2004-2020) in the past decade include Three Days in May (2011-12), Macbeth starring James McAvoy (2013), The Hothouse starring John Simm and Simon Russell Beale (2013), The Pride (2013), Another Country (2014), Richard III starring Martin Freeman (2014), East is East starring Jane Horrocks and Ayub Khan-Din (2014-15), The Ruling Class starring James McAvoy (2015), The Naked Magicians (2016), Apologia (2017), The Grinning Man (2017-18), Killer Joe starring Orlando Bloom (2018), Misty starring Arinze Kene (2018), Nine Night written by Natasha Gordon (2018-19), Admissions starring Alex Kingston (2019), Education, Education, Education (2019), Equus (2019), A Day in the Death of Joe Egg starring Toby Stephens and Claire Skinner (2019), A Taste of Honey starring Jodie Prenger (2019-20), and On Blueberry Hill (2020).

Play

Killer Joe

Orlando Bloom stars in the multi-award winning comedy thriller, Killer Joe.

Play

Education, Education, Education

The Wardrobe Ensemble's Education, Education, Education receives its long-awaited West End premiere at Trafalgar Studios.

Play

Richard III

Richard lll at the Trafalgar Studios

Play

The British Library presents Peter Nichols: A Celebration

A reading from selected works of playwright Peter Nichols

Play

Nine Night

Natasha Gordon’s debut play transfers to the West End following a sell-out run in the Dorfman earlier this year.

Play

Mountaintop, The

Play

Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train

Musical

The Grinning Man

Don't miss your last chance to see what has come to the fairground!

Play

Bash: Latterday Plays

‘Compelling, confident and provocative’ The Stage

Play

East Is East

★★★★ 'Jane Horrocks back to the stage in a terrific, gutsy-yet-sensitive portrayal’ The Independent

Play

On Blueberry Hill

On Blueberry Hill from Laureate of Irish Fiction Sebastian Barry

Play

Caretaker, The

Play

A Taste of Honey

The groundbreaking play by Shelagh Delaney returns to London's West End after 60 years!

Play

Educating Rita

Musical

All's Nell That Ends Nell

Celebrate 50 years of Rocky Horror with Columbia's Rocky Horror confessional!

Play

World's Wife

Play

Hidden In The Sand

Play

Golem

Play

Belongings

Play

Salt, Root and Roe

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Third Floor

Play

A Handful of Stars

Play

Step 9 (of 12)

Play

An Instinct For Kindness

Play

The Act

Play

Dumb Waiter, The

Musical

State Fair

Musical

Confessions of a Dancewhore

Play

Dublin Carol

Play

Three Days in May

Play

Third Finger, Left Hand

Play

Huis Clos

Play

Yes, Prime Minister

Play

New Statesman, The

Play

Elling

Play

Rat Pack Confidential

Play

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School - Director's Cuts

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The Hothouse

Starring Simon Russell Beale and John Simm

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Dealer's Choice

Play

The Pride

Play

Eloquent Protest 3

Play

Lidless

Musical

Betwixt!

Play

Lower Ninth

Musical

Sing-A-Long-A-Abba

Play

Holding The Man

Play

Out There on Fried Meat Ridge Road

Enjoyable, undemanding hillbilly comedy with a heart of gold!

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Naked Magicians

This is SOME magic... We guarantee you have never witnessed anything like this before.

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Lovely and Misfit

Play

Peccadillo Circus

Play

Not About Heroes

Musical

Julie Madly Deeply

Play

End Of The Rainbow

Play

Bent

Musical

Barbershopera: Cabaret Sauvignon

Barbershopera presents Cabaret Sauvignon at Trafalgar Studios 2

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Later

Play

Madness in Valencia

Musical

Dessa Rose

Starring Cynthia Eviro and Cassidy Janson

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Horrid Henry

Play

I Found My Horn

Play

The Philanthropist

“Intellectually stimulating, touchingly sympathetic and gloriously, gloriously funny” - Sunday Times

Play

Art

Play

Artemis Fowl - Fairies, Fiends & Flatulence

Musical

Maria Friedman: Re-Arranged

Play

The Ruling Class

Musical

Ordinary Days

Play

Mrs Lowry and Son

Play

Dream of The Dog

Play

Two Men Talking

Play

Night In November, A

Play

Precious Little Talent

Play

James Freedman: Man Of Steal

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Riflemind

Musical

Barbershopera II

Play

Old Country, The

Play

The Leisure Society

Play

Entertaining Mr Sloane

Play

Being Shakespeare

Play

Stephen and the Sexy Partridge

Play

An Incident at the Border

The world premiere of An Incident at the Border by acclaimed young playwright Kieran Lynn

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Abigails Party

Play

Losing Louis

Play

Visiting Mr Green

Play

Top Girls

Play

Touched

Play

Another Country

'Exceptionally timely, superb performances, a gripping production’ Daily Telegraph

Musical

Simply Heavenly

Play

Fiesta (The Sun Also Rises)

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Zelda

Zelda showing at Trafalgar Studios 2

Play

The Pride

Play

Irish Blood, English Heart

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Last Cigarette, The

Play

Oresteia

Play

Celebrity Night At Cafe Red

Celebrity Night at Cafe Red playing at Trafalgar Studios 2

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When Did You Last See My Mother?

Play

Shoot The Crow

Play

Tape

Play

Novecento

Play

Chicken

Play

Terre Haute

Play

New Boy

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Land Of Our Fathers

‘A blisteringly good debut’ Time Out

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Happy New

Play

Daughter's A Daughter, A

Play

Fever Chart, The

Play

Sex With A Stranger

Play

Mercury Fur

Play

Dirty White Boy

Play

Jane Eyre

Play

Fat Pig (Closed)

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Barbershopera: Apocalypse No!

Play

Handful Of Stars

Play

Apologia

Don't miss Stockard Channing starring in Apologia at Trafalgar Studios!

Play

Admissions

This is your last chance to see Alex Kingston in the smash-hit Admissions

Play

Myra's Story

Homelessness, heartbreak, and hope intertwine in the unforgettable Myra's Story.

Musical

Wolfboy

Play

Equus

Equus transfers to London's West End - don't miss out on tickets to this dark psychological tale.

Play

A Day in the Death of Joe Egg

Toby Stephens stars in the long-awaited revival of Joe Egg at Trafalgar Studios!

Musical

Jamaica Love

Embrace the love and feel the rhythm with Jamaica Love!

Musical

Jersey Boys

Featuring all of The Four Seasons' biggest hits - Jersey Boys takes to the West End!

Play

Strangers in Between

Prepare to fall in love with Strangers in Between, a coming of age story centred on family and finding yourself.

Play

Disco Pigs

Premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1997, this is a major revival to mark its 20th anniversary.

Play

The Homecoming

Jamie Lloyd Company presents Harold Pinter's enigmatic masterpiece, The Homecoming, in the 50th anniversary year

Play

46 Beacon

46 Beacon is the story of that night your life was forever changed.

Play

Buried Child

Sam Shepard's Pulitzer winning play lands at Trafalgar Studios starring internationally acclaimed Ed Harris

Musical

A Taste of Honey

The groundbreaking play by Shelagh Delaney returns to London's West End after 60 years!

Play

The Red Lion

New Marber’s play will be formed by his personal experience with non-league football

Play

Misty

Following its sold-out run at the Bush Theatre, Arinzé Kene's acclaimed Misty transfers to London’s Trafalgar Studios