The West End of London, often referred to as Theatreland, is home to a collection of professional theatres that have come to represent one oof the major commercial theatre hubs in the English-speaking world. This vibrant area, similar to New York City’s Broadway, is a testament to the rich history and enduring appeal of British theatre.

The Birth of West End Theatre

Theatre in London flourished after the English Reformation. The first permanent public playhouse, known as The Theatre, was constructed in 1576 in Shoreditch by James Burbage. It was soon joined by The Curtain, and both are known to have been used by William Shakespeare’s company. In 1599, the timber from The Theatre was moved to Southwark, where it was used in building the Globe Theatre.

The first West End theatre, known as Theatre Royal in Bridges Street, was designed by Thomas Killigrew and built on the site of the present Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. It opened on 7 May 1663 and was destroyed by a fire nine years later. It was replaced by a new structure designed by Christopher Wren and renamed the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

The Cultural Significance of West End Theatre

West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London. Seeing a West End show is a common tourist activity in London. Famous screen actors, British and international alike, frequently appear on West End stages.

There are a total of 39 theatres in the West End, with the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, opened in May 1663, being the oldest theatre in London. The Savoy Theatre, built as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, was entirely lit by electricity in 1881.

The Covid-19 pandemic and West End Theatre

The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) announced that 2018 was a record year for the capital’s theatre industry with attendances topping 15.5 million for the first time since the organisation began collecting audience data in 1986. Box office revenues exceeded £765 million. While attendance in 2019 was down 1.4% compared to the previous year, box office revenues reached a record £799 million.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on West End theatres. Theatres in London and across the UK closed on March 16, 2020, a day known in the industry as ‘Dark Monday’ due to the devastating impact of the pandemic on London’s West End. Nearly 40% of theatre and arts workers in London were made redundant as a result of the pandemic. Many of the workers, including backstage and bar staff working at the capital’s biggest venues, struggled to access vital Government support schemes such as furlough.

The West End theatre industry has shown resilience in the face of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the first full set of figures from SOLT since the disruption caused by the pandemic, box-office revenue in the West End in 2022 increased by 11.6% compared with 2019. However, when adjusted for inflation, the 2022 figure would have been equivalent to £790 million, compared with £799 million in 2019.

Attendance in 2022 was up 7.1% to 16.4 million, from 15.3 million in 2019. This is a slight, yet encouraging increase but audience levels have not fully recovered since the pandemic.

Not just a collection of buildings

West End theatre is not just a collection of buildings or a geographical location. It is a symbol of the enduring appeal of live theatre, a testament to the talent of countless artists, and a beacon for audiences from around the world. It is a vibrant and integral part of London’s cultural landscape.

Finally, here is a list of West End theatres in alphabetical order.