Situated on Shaftesbury Avenue in the heart of the west-end, The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II Listed building designed by Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and was the fourth theatre to be constructed on the street. The venue first opened its doors to the public on 21st February 1901 showcasing a production of the American musical comedy 'The Belle Of Bohemia' and was followed by a season of productions from John Martin-Harvey, which included 'A Cigarette Makers Romance' and 'The Only Way'.
The Apollo was the first theatre built in the west-end during the Edwardian Period and was renovated by Schaufelberg in 1932, which saw a private foyer and anteroom installed to the Royal Box. The theatre features sculpted work on the stone fascia by T. Simpson, but the building is of plain brick to the neighbouring streets and has a first floor central loggia. There is a three-galleried auditorium inside featuring some elaborate plasterwork and the theatre can seat 796 people. Patrons should think carefully before booking seats in the balcony on the third tier however as it is considered to be the steepest in London theatre.
The Apollo was purchased by the Stoll Moss Group in 1975 who then sold it on to Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Really Useful Group and Bridgepoint Capital in 2000. in 2005, Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer purchased the theatre along with several others, creating Nimax Theatres who currently still own the theatre.
London theatre tickets to all productions at the Apollo Theatre can be purchased securely online through this website.
FAQ's About Booking Tickets To The Apollo Theatre
Where Is The Best Section Of The Apollo Theatre To Book Tickets?
The Apollo Theatre has three tiers with the cheapest seats being located in the upper circle and the most expensive being front and centre in either the stalls or dress circle. While this is not the largest venue in the West End, it still has several different price structures in all sections of the theatre meaning that when looking for the best value for tickets it can be beneficial to study the seating plan closely to look for the cut off points for each different price range in the theatre which can lead to substantial savings.
Can I Buy Discount Tickets To The Apollo Theatre?
The producers rarely offer official discount tickets however prices do fluctuate and midweek performances during off peak periods will usually see a downward movement for ticket prices to the show. Some of the official retail outlets will offer discounts during quiet weeks if they buy in bulk upfront but this will usually only happen if the West End is quiet and is more luck than judgement from a consumer perspective.
Are Upper Circle Tickets To The Apollo Theatre Good Value?
They can be. It is recommended that you study the seating plan before booking as there are some seats in this section that feature slight restrictions to the view however this should be clearly marked for full transparency and priced accordingly. Thankfully there are no pillars to deal with so most of the tickets in this section do have a clear view although you are situated quite high up.
Why Do Websites Charge A Booking Fee For Tickets At The Apollo Theatre?
As with all West End shows, this boils down to basic supply and demand as the producers are in business to make money and if the show is busy they will charge all agents full price for tickets meaning that the online ticket agents running the websites will have no option but to charge a booking fee to turn a profit. The good news though is that if you are booking tickets through websites that are members of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) then all fees should be clearly visible prior to purchase so you will be aware of exactly what you are getting into and there are no nasty surprises upon checkout.