The Duke of York's Theatre is a west-end theatre located at the bottom of St Martin's Lane, close to Covent Garden. The theatre opened on 10th September 1892 as the 'Trafalgar Square Theatre', showcasing a production of 'Wedding Eve' and was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the venue, until her death in 1935. Designed by architect Walter Emen, the venue was known as the Trafalgar Theatre in 1894 however the following year became the Duke of York's in tribute to the future King George V.
An early notable show to be staged at the Duke Of York's was 'Go Bang' which had a successful season at the theatre in 1894. Jerome K Jerome's production of 'Miss Hobbs' was staged as well in 1900 as David Belasco's 'Madame Butterfly' which was seen by Puccini who later transformed it into what is now a famous opera. The venue was also where J.M. Barrie's 'Peter Pan' debuted on 27th December 1904. A long collection of famous actors have appeared on stage at the Duke of York's Theatre, famously including Basil Rathbone, who played Alfred de Musset in 'Madame Sand' in June 1920, and returning again in November 1932 starring as the Unknown Gentleman in 'Tonight Or Never'.
In September 1960, the theatre became Grade II listed by English Heritage. During the late 1970s, the freehold was purchased by Capital Radio who closed the venue for refurbishment. After it reopened in February 1980, the first production to be staged was 'Rose', starring Glenda Jackson. In 1992, the theatre was bought by the Ambassadors Theatre Group which coincided with London's hottest show at the time, The Royal Court's production of Ariel Dorfman's 'Death And The Maiden'. More successful productions followed including Richard O'Brien's 'The Rocky Horror Show' (celebrating its 21st Birthday) and the hugely successful 'Royal Court Classics Season' in 1995.
The Duke Of York's Theatre is now the headquarters of the Ambassador Theatre Group and forms part of their portfolio of venues.
London theatre tickets to all productions staged at the Duke of York's Theatre can be purchased securely through this website.
FAQ's About Booking Tickets To The Duke Of York's Theatre
Where Are The Best Value Tickets At The Duke Of York's Theatre Situated?
There are three tiers in the theatre with the best seats located unsurprisingly in the front and centre of the stalls on the ground floor and dress circle one level up. The seats in the upper circle are usually priced accordingly which will save money however it is worth checking the different price bands for value and whether these seats have a clear view of the stage before you book.
Should I Avoid Booking Tickets At The Duke Of York's Theatre That Have A Restricted View?
This will depend on the production and how severe the restrictions actually are? All three levels of the venue do have seats that feature restrictions to the view of the stage so when booking tickets at the Duke Of York's Theatre it is highly recommended that you study the seating prior to purchase first to ensure not just that you are comfortable with the view but also that you are getting value for money for your ticket. Some of the seats in the rear stalls for example have severe restrictions from pillars yet are priced on a par or sometimes even more expensive than clear view seats in the upper circle. Restrictions in both the dress circle and the upper circle tend to be on the sides so where the action is taking place on stage will determine how bad the restriction is. Centrally located seats in the Duke Of York's are usually a pretty safe bet.
