Menier Chocolate Factory

Menier Chocolate Factory

53 Southwark Street, London SE1 1RU

Getting here

Closest Tube Station

London Bridge

The Menier Chocolate Factory is an off-West End theatre located on Southwark Street, London, and comprises a theatre, restaurant, bar, and rehearsal space.  Hailed by the Evening Standard as being "one of the most dynamic fringe venues in London", the Menier Chocolate Factory stages plays, and musicals, and hosts live music as well as stand-up comedy. 

The Menier Chocolate Factory: History and Awards

The theatre occupies, as the name suggests, an old chocolate factory building that had been abandoned and left derelict since the 1980's. Revived and re-opened in 2004 as The Menier Chocolate Factory, the theatre is managed by artistic director David Babani, and has received awards and praise for performances and the unique venue itself. Just a year after its opening, the theatre received the Peter Brook/Empty Space Up and Coming Venue Award, and in the same year also swept up the Evening Standard Milton Shulman Award of Outstanding Newcomer.

The Chocolate Factory had another successful year in 2007 with the production of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sunday in the Park with George, which one a full 5 Olivier Awards, some of which included Best Actor in a Musical (Daniel Evans) as well as Best Actress in a Musical (Jenna Russell). 2009 saw more Olivier Awards for Chocolate Factory productions with Douglas Hodge winning Best Actor in a Musical for his performance of Zaza in La Cage aux Folles. The production also won Best Musical Revival.

The Menier Chocolate Factory has since continued to produce a medley of productions from musicals and play revivals to stand-up comedy, live music, and new writing.

Throughout its history, The Menier Chocolate Factory building has been inspired by both individuality and the pursuit of quality. Built in 1870 to house a chocolate factory, this unique space now comprises a restaurant and bar, rehearsal room and 150 seat theatre. Having maintained the original exposed wooden beams, unusual cast iron columns and an amazing brick feature interior, the Chocolate Factory is a stimulating environment to enjoy a high-quality and entertaining theatrical experience.

Productions at The Menier Chocolate Factory include:

  • Americana Absurdum by Brian Parks
  • The UK premiere of Fully Committed by Becky Mode
  • Murderer by Anthony Shaffer
  • The European premier of Tick, Tick… Boom! by Jonathan Larson
  • The world premiere of What We Did to Weinstein by Ryan Craig
  • The award winning revival of Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine
  • Total Eclipse by Christopher Hampton
  • The award winning La Cage aux Folles by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein
  • The Invisible Man by Ken Hill
  • The Common Pursuit by Simon Gray
  • Sweet Charity by Neil Simon
  • A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
  • Forbidden Broadway by Gerard Alessandrini
  • SMASH! by Jack Rosenthal
  • The European premiere of Road Show by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman

POWER OF SAIL is the current production at Menier Chocolate Factory. The upcoming booking period for POWER OF SAIL at Menier Chocolate Factory starts 20/03/2024 19:30:00 and runs until 12/05/2024 15:00:00. Tickets for POWER OF SAIL start at £43 and are available to book now.

Menier Chocolate Factory is located in London. The full address is Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, London SE1 1RU.

Musical

Close-Up: The Twiggy Musical

Are you ready for your close-up? Be transported to the 60s with Ben Elton's new musical!

Musical

Anthony Rapp – Without You

Play

Charley's Aunt

Musical

Le Gateau Chocolat

Play

The Color Purple

Play

Torch Song Trilogy

Play

The Lyons

Musical

She Loves Me

"She Loves Me","Vanilla Ice Cream", "A Trip to the Library"... start singing along!

Play

Proof

A new production of David Auburn’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony-winning play

Musical

The Color Purple

Play

Travels With My Aunt

Musical

Into The Woods

Take a journey Into The Woods and get what you wish for!

Musical

The Bridges of Madison County

The Bridges of Madison County is set to make its highly anticipated UK premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory this summer.

Musical

Barnum

Marcus Brigstocke as P.T. Barnum, the Greatest Showman on Earth

Musical

Christina Bianco - In Divine Company

An award-winning singer and comic, Christina Bianco always gives the right impression.

Play

Indecent

A seminal work of Jewish culture or an act of traitorous libel?

Musical

Spamilton

Spamilton – Hamilton and much more. With tickets available…

Play

Habeas Corpus

Alan Bennett's Habeas Corpus in London's West End

Play

Orpheus Descending

Orpheus Descending

Musical

The Boy Friend

The 20s roar back into London with The Boy Friend at Menier Chocolate Factory

Play

Marjorie Prime

Marjorie Prime is a futuristic and chilling introspection into the human psyche.

Play

ALEX EDELMAN: JUST FOR US

Alex Edelman's Just For Us - a wise and witty monologue that explores all from his career!

Play

Pack of Lies

Dame Judi Dench's Olivier winning role to be played by her daughter, Finty Williams

Musical

The Third Man

Don't miss The Third Man musical premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Play

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Samuel Barnett and Declan Bennett in Kiss of the Spider Woman

Play

The Gronholm Method

By Jordi Galceran. Translated by Anne García-Romero and Mark St. Germain.

Musical

Pacific Overtures

One of Stephen Sondheim‘s most ambitious works comes to The Menier Chocolate Factory