Lyric Theatre

Lyric Theatre

Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ES

Lyric Theatre Safety Policy

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

Getting here

Closest Tube Station

Piccadilly Circus

Closest Train Station

Charing Cross

Located in Shaftesbury Avenue, the Lyric Theatre is a popular West End theatre. It has a seating capacity of 915 on four levels. C. J. Phipps built the theatre for the producer Henry Leslie. The light opera of the latter hit “Dorothy” made him enough profit to finance the project, as well as transfer the show to open the new theatre on 17th December 1888.

Welcome to the Lyric Theatre

The Lyric is the oldest theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. Initially specialising in musical theatre, it continued to be the same throughout its history. During the venue’s first 40 years, productions included The Mountebanks (1982), His Excellency (1984), The Chocolate Solider (1910) and Lilac Time (1922). The Lyric has also staged several non-musicals ranging from the works of Shakespeare to Noël Coward. Stars who have graced the theatre with their performance include Marie Tempest, Ellen Terry, Tallulah Bankhead, Laurence Olivier, and Vivien Leigh. More recent actors to play here include Ian McKellen, Woody Harrelson, John Malkovich, Glenda Jackson, and Alec Guinness.

The Architecture and History of the Lyric

In 1932 and 33, the beautiful bars and foyer underwent refurbishment. Later, in 1994, the majestic façade was restored. Although the theatre has undergone various renovations, it still uses an outdated electric pump which amazingly still operates the venue’s remarkable iron curtain. The Lyric Theatre was originally constructed around an already present structure which was once Sir William Hunter’s home and museum and dated back to 1766. While many knew the venue for its comic operas, it gradually became a popular stage for musicals, comedies, and straight dramas.

As opposed to several other theatres in the West End, which have faced difficult times throughout their existence, the best shows at the Lyric by famous playwrights such as J. B. Priestley Eugene O’Neill and George Bernard Shaw kept the theatre standing strong in both its good and bad times. In 1960, it became Grade II listed and is owned by Nimax Theatres today.

Fun fact: A bomb hit the Lyric Theatre during WWI. Some say an Usherette killed in the blast haunts the venue.

The Theatre in the 2000s

Before Nimax Theatres bought the venue in 2005, Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group purchased it in 2000. Productions before then included Fanny Burney’s A Busy Day (2000) starring Sara Crowe and Stephanie Beacham, followed by Brief Encounter’s stage adaptation starring Christopher Cazenove and Jenny Seagrove in the same year. Shows at the theatre in the 2000s came one after another and did not let the venue down.

  • The schoolgirl comedy Daisy Pulls It Off had a 3-month-long performance run in 2002.
  • In 2003, a revival of Strindberg’s The Dance Of Death starred Ian McKellen and Frances de la Tour.
  • Bill Kenwright presented Night Of The Iguana starring Jenny Seagrove, Clare Higgins, and Woody Harrelson in 2005.
  • In 2006, Phil McIntyre staged Smaller by Carmel Morgan, starring Alison Moyet and Dawn French.
Lyric Theatre Seating Plan

Hadestown is the current production at Lyric Theatre. The latest booking period for Hadestown at Lyric Theatre started 10/02/2024 19:30:00 and runs until 22/12/2024 15:00:00. Tickets for Hadestown start at £25 and are available to book now.

Lyric Theatre is located in London. The full address is Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ES.

Musical

Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical

Bob Marley's fascinating story gets the full West End treatment in this new bio-musical

Play

Operation Ouch Live on Stage

TV’s favourite doctors return to the West End this December

Play

Room On The Broom Live

Room on the Broom flies back into the West End!

Dance

Metamorphosis

Maria Caruso’s Metamorphosis in London for 2 performances only!

Musical

A Journey to the Past

A one night only celebration of Ahrens & Flaherty.

Concert

There's No Place Like Home

Join Charlie Kristensen and friends for a sensational night of musical theatre!

Play

Adam Kay: Undoctored – This is Going to Hurt More

One of Britain's biggest-selling authors tells all about life on the NHS frontline!

Musical

Gals Aloud

Girls Aloud are back as you’ve never seen them before in the drag extravaganza Gals Aloud!

Musical

West End Musical Halloween

For a night of freakish delight, get tickets for West End Halloween at Lyric Theatre London.

Musical

Thriller Live

Thriller Live celebrates the world’s greatest entertainer and undisputed King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

Concert

Suggs: What A King Cnut – A Life in The Realm Of Madness

Suggs is treading the boards again with a brand new show, his life in his words and music

Play

The Smeds and The Smoos

The Smeds and The Smoos Tickets

Musical

Roles We'll Never Play

Roles We'll Never Play at the Lyric Theatre!

Musical

Blippi The Musical

Blippi The Musical returns to the stage in time for Christmas

Musical

SuperYou Musical in Concert

This journey of hope and resilience at the Lyric Theatre stars the incredible Lucie Jones!

Concert

Trevor Ashley – Queen of the Moment

Trevor Ashley is THE queen of the moment in this night of laugh-out-loud entertainment!

Musical

Cake

Cake tells a story that sparked a revolution through a new and invigorating lens!

Musical

Mean Gals

Mean Gals at Lyric Theatre

Musical

Death Note: The Musical in Concert - Lyric Theatre

Unleash the power of the supernatural pen in Death Note, a thrilling battle of justice!

Play

Encounters: Performers on Performance

Play

Knightmare Live - Level 2

Play

Secret Rapture

Play

The Circus of Horrors

Play

Joe Lycett: That's The Way, A-ha A-ha

Musical

LIZA (on an E)

Trevor Ashley as the irrepressible, incomparable and infamously iconic Liza Minnelli in Liza (on an E)

Play

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Musical

CAMUT - Life is Rhythm

Dance

Flamenco Flamenka

Play

Dany Boon "Best Of"

Play

Smaller

Musical

Curtis Stigers

Concert

Graeme Swann’s Great British Spin Off with Henry Blofeld – The Second Innings

This is an unmissable show full of surprises, anecdotes, impressions and more!

Concert

Facing East in Concert

Concert

All-Star Comedy Benefit for Jim Tavare

Don't miss the opportunity to support a good a cause and see 12 top comedians at the same time!

Musical

Never Forget (Lyric)

Play

Simon Callow in The Man Jesus

Musical

#searchforatwitterstar LIVE!

Musical

Beautiful and Damned

Concert

Chris Ramsey: All Growed Up

Play

Outings

‘Punchy, lucid and moving… Highly recommended.’ -- The Guardian

Play

Hitchcock Blonde

Play

Home and Beauty

Concert

Seasons of Larson

Play

Raising Expectations

Play

Constant Wife

Dance

Pasha and Katya

Musical

Godspell In Concert

Play

I, Feuerbach

Play

Festen

Concert

Joe Stilgoe in New Songs for Old Souls - Christmas Special

Play

Centrepoint's Laughing Point

Dance

Explosion UK

Play

ENCOUNTERS: Performers on Performance: TIM MINCHIN

Musical

Bloody Elle

Part gig, part one-woman show, Bloody Elle is a tale of falling in love for the first time

Musical

West End Live Lounge: The Greats

Some of the West End's brightest stars come together to sing the hits

Musical

Babies

Don't miss this new(born) comedy about growing out of growing up at the Lyric Theatre

Musical

La Voix - The Red Ambition Tour

Join the UK’s funniest red-headed drag queen in her most ambitious show yet!

Play

Boy Out The City

Witness Declan Bennett's unfiltered autobiographical debut

Musical

West End Musical Christmas

The biggest West End stars celebrate the festive season with West End Musical Christmas!

Musical

Elton John: It's A Little Bit Funny

Elton John: It's A Little Bit Funny comes to the West End for One-Night-Only

Play

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Your hunt for the perfect family show is over. Let's go on a bear hunt!

Musical

La Voix - Eighth Wonder of the World

La Voix in London for one night only!

Concert

Mandy Patinkin in Concert

See Mandy Patinkin - one of the most beloved actors, singers and storytellers of our time.

Play

An Evening with Jennifer Saunders

Jennifer Saunders has a sit-down with actor David O-Reilly for a lovely evening at the Lyric Theatre in London.

Musical

Sam Bailey: Live in the West End

Musical

Only One Direction

Play

Peter Pan Goes Wrong

Peter Pan Goes Wrong returns to London's West End for a limited time only, book now.

Play

Midlife Cowboy

Musical

Six

DIVORCED, BEHEADED, LIVE! AT THE LYRIC! Tickets to hit West End musical Six are among the hottest in Theatreland!

Dance

Giovanni Pernice: Born To Win

Strictly Come Dancing' professional, Giovanni Pernice, will be heading back out on tour in 2018, after a sell out tour in 2017.

Musical

WeGotTickets Musical Comedy Awards Final

Hosted by the wonderful Tina T'urner Tea Lady!

Musical

Aspects of Love

Michael Ball stars in Andrew Lloyd Webber's tangled love story Aspects of Love!

Musical

Gruffalo

Join Mouse on a journey through the deep dark wood…