QUEENS THEATRE

Posted on 20 January 2012

The Queens Theatre, can be found situated on one of London’s major streets, which runs straight through Soho, the home of theatre land and the beginning of Chinatown.

There are many theatres (and cinemas) located on this busy stretch of road, it is one of the glitzier streets, hosting a variety of shows and venues, including the Queens theatre ‘twin’ -  The Gielgud Theatre.  The architect for both of these theatres was W.G.R. Sprague; with the Queen's being the seventh West End theatre he had designed in addition to many outside London.

If you ever have the chance to visit the theatre, the magnificent building will remind you about the Renaissance Revival period and was built in true Edwardian style. In the year 1959, the opulent Queens Theatre had undergone some renovations and reconstruction after a bombing attack.

During the reconstruction of the auditorium, foyers, bars and theatre exteriors were also updated with Edwardian features. In the year 1907, Queens Theatre marked its opening and some of the popular stars of 20's and 30's were Fred and Adale Astaire, Tallulah Bankhead, Jack Hawkins and Gertrude Lawrence.

The theatre has a wide number of facilities throughout including, disabled access where entrance to the auditorium is through the fourth side EXIT door on Wardour Street.  Guide dogs are permitted to stay with owners if required, and Staff can also look after them. Please note however, there is a maximum of 3 guide dogs per performance, so please check before attending.

For those with hard of hearing, there is an Infra-red system with 12 headsets, (which can be collected from the foyer kiosk) It’s recommended to avoid front row of the Stalls.  There is also an Induction loop in auditorium and at the Box Office.

The theatre can seat over 900 guests, split over 3 levels; the Upper Circle, Dress Circle and Stalls, each level has a bar and toilets.  If you are after a little more leg room than normal, then front Stalls seats and aisles should be the best option for you!

The main musical being staged at the Queens Theatre is world famous Les Miserables.  It is the longest running musical and has been enjoyed by more than 54 million people across the globe in 38 countries and approximately 21 varied languages.  It has been staged at the Queens Theatre since April 2003, and still proving to be a success to this present day.