Peacock Theatre

Peacock Theatre

Portugal Street, Kingsway, London WC2A 2HT

Getting here

Closest Tube Station

Holborn

Closest Train Station

Charing Cross

The Peacock Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, London, located in Portugal Street, near Aldwych. The 999-seat house is owned by, and comprises part of the London School of Economics and Political Science campus, who utilise the theatre for lectures, public talks, conferences, political speeches and open days. The university has a long lease with Sadler's Wells with whom it has negotiated a deal to bring in commercial companies under the banner "Sadler's Wells in the West End". The Peacock Theatre often plays host to dance performances, conferences, ballet, pop concerts and award ceremonies. The stage is approximately 36 feet (11 m) by 33 feet (10 m).

The Peacock Theatre, London: History

A theatre has stood on the site since the 17th century. Known as Gibbon's Tennis Court, or the Vere Street Theatre. Mrs Hughes became the first (identified) woman to tread the boards of a London theatre, on 8 December 1660, in a performance of Othello. The company left the theatre in 1663 and there is no record of further plays at the theatre. The building was finally destroyed by a fire in 1809.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the creation of Aldwych and Kingsway, linking High Holborn and Aldwych, destroyed a number of established London playhouses and the site between Portugal Street and Sardinia Street became available. Oscar Hammerstein II commissioned Bertie Crewe, to build a new theatre in the Beaux-Arts style. The theatre opened on 13 November 1911 as the London Opera House. It had an approximately 45 feet (13.7 m) by 78 feet (23.8 m) stage, and a capacity of 2,660. As an opera house, it found it difficult to attract audiences from the Royal Opera House, and from 1914–15 the house became the National Theatre of England.

The theatre was purchased by Oswald Stoll in 1916 and renamed the Stoll Theatre and, for a time, as the Stoll Picture Theatre, housing cine variety until the 1950s. Rose Marie played at the Stoll Theatre in 1942, followed by Kismet and Stars on Ice in 1947. The London transfer of a version of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess that restored it to an operatic form, took place here on 9 October 1952. Joan of Arc at the Stake was produced in 1954, starring Ingrid Bergman. The theatre closed on 4 August 1957, and was demolished for the construction of an office block.

The Peacock Theatre: Current Building

The present, smaller theatre was built and christened The Royalty Theatre in 1960, located on the basement level of an office building. It was the first West End theatre to be built since the Saville Theatre in 1931. The MGM film Ben Hur played at the theatre in 1961. Mutiny on the Bounty played next, and the theatre was then equipped for screening Cinerama films becoming London's third Cinerama theatre (the others being the Casino Cinerama and the Coliseum Cinerama). The theatre only premièred one Cinerama film, The Golden Head, however. In 1966, the house returned to live theatre use. The Royalty Theatre's only successes were a run of the hit Calcutta and a hit production of Bubbling Brown Sugar in the late 1970s. Spectacular 'follies' style shows and 'drag' shows didn't find an audience, and the theatre became used as a TV studio for This is Your Life, but was later bought by the London School of Economics and renamed The Peacock Theatre.

When Sadler's Wells determined to build its new theatre in 1996, the company moved to the West End's Peacock Theatre. After the new Sadler's Wells Theatre opened in 1998, The Peacock became a dance venue for the company. The Rat Pack played at the theatre in 2002, and Doldrum Bay premièred here in 2003. The house is now shared between the London School of Economics (during the day) and Sadler's Wells evening dance productions.

 

The Peacock Theatre is most noted as the home of one of the West End's most unusual ghosts, a dolphin commonly known as 'Flipper'. An urban myth has grown that during one of Paul Raymond's revues at the theatre in the 1970s, a dolphin was kept in a tank beneath the stage, where it lived permanently and later died from neglect. In fact, this is not true. Indeed two dolphins 'Pennie' and 'Pixie' were kept in the theatre in a tank for three months for a show called 'The Royalty Folies' later renamed 'The Great International Nude Show'. However neither of these animals died whist at the theatre and at the close of the show the animals were moved to a dolphinarium in the far east. The remnants of the tank and its lifting equipment still remain below the stage and numerous visitors to the theatre claim to have heard a spectral squeaking, not unlike a crying baby when in the vicinity. One possible explanation is that the London Underground passes very close to the substage areas of the theatre and it is noise from the tunnels that creates the sound.

Peacock Theatre Seating Plan

The Peacock Theatre Seating Plan

The Peacock Theatre has a capacity of 974 across 2 levels: Stalls and Circle.

My First Ballet: Swan Lake is the current production at Peacock Theatre. The latest booking period for My First Ballet: Swan Lake at Peacock Theatre started 29/03/2018 14:00:00 and runs until 13/04/2024 17:30:00. Tickets for My First Ballet: Swan Lake start at £15 and are available to book now.

We strongly advise taking public transportation to the theatre. The nearest underground stations to the theatre are Holborn (Central/Piccadilly Lines) and Temple (District/Circle Lines). The theatre is also extremely well serviced by bus lines 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 19, 22B, 23, 25, 26, 68, 76, 91, 168, 171, 341, 501, 505, and 521. If driving to the theatre the nearest car park is NCP in Parker Street.

Dance

English National Ballet: My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty

ENB brings enchanting first encounter with dance for children of all ages.

Dance

Remembering the Oscars

Remembering the Oscars bring new show to West End's Peacock Theatre following previous sold out tour.

Dance

Another Kind of Blue: Flirt with Reality

Britain’s Got Talent finalists Another Kind of Blue head to the West End's Peacock Theatre this summer!

Dance

London International Mime Festival: Barely Methodical Troupe - Kin

The UK's hottest circus company at the Peacock Theatre

Dance

New English Ballet Theatre: The Four Seasons / Remembrance

New English Ballet Theatre returns with two contrasting works.

Dance

Phoenix Dance: The Rite of Spring / Left Unseen

An innovative blend of acting and movement

Dance

SOHO: Circus, street dance & theatre

SOHO: A thrill ride of circus, street dance & theatre. It’s not just a place, it’s a state of mind…

Musical

Saturday Night Fever

Saturday Night Fever boogies back on to the West End stage!

Dance

Shoes

Dance

Jakop Ahlbom Company & Alamo Race Track — Lebensraum

Based on Buster Keaton’s 1920 silent film The Scarecrow.

Dance

Nadiya & Kai: Once Upon a Time

Nadiya & Kai: Once Upon a Time at the Peacock Theatre is a ballroom journey like no other!

Dance

The Tap Pack

The Tap Pack brings the style of the Rat Pack to the stage with tap and music from all eras.

Musical

La Bamba

Dance to the rhythm of unity with La Bamba!, a new high-energy musical fiesta!

Dance

Yamato: Passion

The Yamato drummers return to London, and this time they are packing the big drums!

Dance

Breakin’ Convention Presents - The Ruggeds’ Between Us

4 performances only Breakin’ Convention Presents - The Ruggeds’ Between Us

Dance

Beats On Pointe: Masters of Choreography

An action-packed roller coaster of old and new school street dance, classical and contemporary ballet, beat boxing, and even some singing!

Dance

Cirque Éloize: Hotel

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, Canadian contemporary circus crew Cirque Éloize open the doors to their new show.

Dance

Phoenix Dance Theatre — Black Waters

Phoenix Dance Theatre — Black Waters 2 days only!

Dance

Che Malambo

A thrilling, testosterone-fuelled show of wild, unbridled energy!

Dance

Motionhouse - Nobody

Fast-moving and highly physical

Dance

German Cornejo’s Wild Tango

The World premiere of German Cornejo's Wild Tango

Dance

Galactik Ensemble -Optraken

French Circus Galactik Ensemble bring Optraken to LIMF at London's Peacock Theatre

Dance

Motionhouse: Charge

Follow the story of electricity in life and through the human body.

Dance

Hercules: A Dance Cabaret

Dance

Titanium

Dance

Phoenix Dance: Windrush

In a touching duet, we see families left behind reunited in their new homes.

Dance

Tango Fire

Authentic Argentinian tango? Tango Fire at the Peacock - hot, raw and passionate!

Dance

Familie Flöz — Infinita

Dance

Havana Rakatan

Dance

Snowma

Dance

New English Ballet Theatre: Tryst: Devotion and Betrayal

Dance

Immortal Tango

Dance

Zippos Presents Cirque Berserk!

Dance

Tango Por Dos

Dance

Psy: The Seven Fingers

Dance

Mark Murphy’s VTOL — Out Of This World

This will be something different - and stand up to its name: OUT OF THIS WORLD indeed.

Dance

Mummenschanz: Musicians of Silence

Dance

Rasta Thomas’ Romeo and Juliet

Dance

Bale de Rua

Musical

Snowm

Dance

My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty

Musical

The Snowman

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Dance

Jasmin Vardimon Company — Justitia

Dance

English National Ballet: My First Cinderella

Dance

Jump

Dance

Jump

Opera

Euridice

Dance

Bad Boys of Dance: Rock The Ballet

Dance

English National Ballet: Swan Lake

★★★★'A pleasure to watch' The Daily Telegraph

Dance

Tango Fire original

Musical

OPERA: La Rondine

Dance

Latin Fever

Dance

Blaze

Musical

UMOJA: The Spirit Of Togetherness

Dance

Motionhouse - Broken

Dance

Bounce - Insane In The Brain

Dance

New English Ballet Theatre — Quint-essential: Five New Ballets

Fresh ballet wind in the West End: 5 brand new pieces you can enjoy in one evening

Dance

London Children’s Ballet — Ballet Shoes

London Children’s Ballet — Ballet Shoes

Dance

Shaun Parker & Company: Happy as Larry

Dance

Shaolin Monks - Shaolin

Dance

Pilobolus Dance Theatre: Shadowland

Dance

Cirkus Cirkor: Inside Out

Dance

Bounce: Insane In The Brain

Dance

BLAM!: Kristján Ingimarsson/ Neander

Dance

Tap Ole

Dance

The Houdini Experience

Dance

London Children’s Ballet: Nanny McPhee

Dance

Traces

Dance

Momix

Dance

Nuevo Ballet Espanol

Dance

Flash Mob

Dance

Flawless

Dance

Jakop Ahlbom Company - Horror

Musical

OPERA: Flight

Opera

Le Nozze di Figaro

Dance

Wah! Wah! Girls

Dance

English National Ballet: My First Ballet: Coppélia

Dance

Machine de Cirque

Post-apocalyptic circus comes to London's Peacock Theatre

Dance

Ballet Revolución

Ballet Revolución

Dance

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: Programme B

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo returns to the Peacock Theatre

Dance

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: Programme A

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo returns to the Peacock Theatre

Dance

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Dance

ZooNation: Some Like It Hip Hop

Kate Prince brings Some Like It Hip Hop back to the West End stage for a limited run!

Concert

Myra DuBois – Be Well

Laugh until your sides hurt with Myra DuBois – Be Well at Peacock Theatre!

Musical

Bat Out Of Hell Singalong

Scream all of your favourite Meatloaf classics into the sky with Bat Out of Hell Singalong

Dance

My First Ballet: Swan Lake

My First Ballet: Swan Lake

Musical

South African Road Trip - Good Hope

A pure, sincere South-African experience!

Musical

The Rocky Horror Show

Make your way to the Frankenstein place at London's Peacock Theatre for Rocky Horror!

Dance

Tango After Dark

German Cornejo and his company dance to the enchanting music of Astor Piazzolla.

Dance

Familie Flöz — Teatro Delusio

★★★★★ "Theatrical triumph without compare" The Sunday Times

Dance

Tap Dogs

Tap Dogs tickets are sure to sell out, don't miss your chance to catch them at the Peacock Theatre!

Dance

Trioperas

A truly extraordinary cross-genre show!

Opera

British Youth Opera — English Eccentrics

Dance

Yamato — Chousensha - The Challengers

Witness the authentic sound of the Japanese Taiko drum!

Dance

Motionhouse — Scattered

"The performance is practically jet-propelled" -- The Times

Dance

Mother Africa — Khayelitsha - My Home

"This show took my breath away, awesome" -- Dolly Parton

Dance

The China National Peking Opera Company — The General and the Prime Minister

OUT OF ASIA 2: Breathtaking tales inspired by real Chinese history, all on one stage

Dance

My First Ballet: Cinderella

Treat your family to a magical ballet experience with Cinderella

Dance

Horror — Jakop Ahlbom Company

★★★★★ "Genuinely terrifying" -- The Stage

Dance

Cirque Éloize — Saloon

"A mesmerising delight" Daily Telegraph on iD

Dance

Motionhouse — Scattered

"The performance is practically jet-propelled" -- The Times

Dance

Yamato — Chousensha - The Challengers

Witness the authentic sound of the Japanese Taiko drum!

Dance

Trioperas

A truly extraordinary cross-genre show!

Dance

Vamos Cuba!

★★★★ "Loveably loopy Cuban dance extravaganza" - Time Out

Dance

Noise Boys

This Edinburgh Fringe hit taps its way onto the London stage!

Dance

Mother Africa — Khayelitsha - My Home

"This show took my breath away, awesome" -- Dolly Parton

Musical

The Snowman

When a young boy's snowman comes to life on Christmas Eve, the two set off on a night-time quest for adventure.

Dance

Burn the Floor — Fire in the Ballroom

“...will have you leaping out of your seat to join in” -- Heat Magazine

Dance

The China National Peking Opera Company — The General and the Prime Minister

OUT OF ASIA 2: Breathtaking tales inspired by real Chinese history, all on one stage

Dance

Footloose

★★★★ "...has the audience on their feet" - OK! Magazine

Musical

Bat Out of Hell

Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s story of post apocalyptic rebellion and passionate love

Musical

Everybody's Talking About Jamie

The West End return everybody is talking about...

Dance

Malevo

Mavelo presents a heart-pounding Argentine dance as you have never seen before.

Dance

Kyiv City Ballet – A Tribute To Peace

The Ukrainian Kyiv City Ballet – A Tribute To Peace comes to London for the first time

Musical

The Snowman

The Snowman is one of the West End’s most magical Christmas treats.