The Novello Theatre is a west-end theatre located on the Aldwych, close to Covent Garden. The venue was actually built as one of a pair of theatres along with the Aldwych Theatre that sits either side of the Waldorf Hotel, both being designed by W.G.R Sprague.
The theatre first opened as the 'Waldorf Theatre' on 22nd May 1905 but was renamed the Strand Theatre shortly after, in 1909 before being renamed again as the 'Whitney Theatre', in 1911 before eventually going back to the 'Strand Theatre', in 1913. The theatre was given the name the 'Novello' by its owners Delfont Mackintosh Theatres in 2005, in honour of Ivor Novello who lived above the theatre from 1913 to 1951.
Notable long-running shows at the venue include the black comedy 'Arsenic And Lace' which had a run of 1337 performances here in the 1940s, and in 1955, 'Sailor Beware' ran for 1231 performances. The Stephen Sondheim musical 'A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum' opened at the venue on the day of JFK's assassination, and ran for there nearly two years.
Another long-running show of note came in 1971, as the hilarious comedy 'No Sex Please We're British' opened and remained the resident show at the venue for over 10 years before it eventually transferred to the Garrick Theatre in 1982.
The theatre underwent extensive refurbishments in both 1930 and then again in the 1970s and was Grade II listed by English Heritage in July 1971. Following the run of 'The Rat Pack- Live From Las Vegas' in 2005, (the theatre's centenary year), the theatre was extensively refurbished again bringing the seating capacity to 1,105.
In December 2005, the theatre reopened with the RSC's annual London season, which was followed by the London première of the Broadway musical 'Footloose' which starred Cheryl Baker before making way for the return of the Royal Shakespeare Company's season for 2006-7.
Several other short lived musicals followed as 'The Drowsey Chaperone' made its west-end debut but lasted only 2 months followed by a musical version of the MGM movie 'Desperately Seeking Susan' set to the music by the band Blondie. The musical received its world première on 15th November 2007, however, lasted just two weeks following a mauling from critics. A replacement show was quickly found with the transfer of 'Shadowlands' from the Wyndhams Theatre in December 2007 for a 12-week run. The current (and slightly more successful) production at the Novello Theatre is Mamma Mia which has been the resident show at the venue since 2012.
London theatre tickets to all performances at the Novello Theatre in London are available to book securely through this website.
FAQ's About Booking Tickets At The Novello Theatre
How Can I Book Cheap Tickets At The Novello Theatre?
Tickets at the Novello Theatre are usually in great demand at weekends and during school holidays so it is best to avoid at these times if you are searching for bargains. There is definitely value to be had for Monday - Thursday performances in all seat categories with stalls and dress circle seats sometimes selling for as little as £30 on certain days during the dark winter months. If you are not fussy about dates and check availability on a regular basis you are certain to find good value at some point.
Are There Any Seats At The Novello Theatre That Should Be Avoided?
There are four tiers to the Novello Theatre and the difference in the different price bands prices can show that not every seat can really be considered to be 'good value!' There are some restricted view seats for in the upper circle and balcony that can sometimes sell from as little as £15 and there is a reason for that! If you look at the difference in price between these seats and the ones situated around them it should give you an indication as to exactly how bad those restrictions really are. It is therefore advisable to always remember that cheap is not always a bargain so always check the seating plan first!
Where In The Novello Theatre Are The Best Value Tickets?
This is very much a matter of personal taste as to whether it is more natural for you to sit in the stalls looking directly at the stage where the best value financially will usually be found slightly to the sides or to the rear of the theatre, or whether you prefer to look down from an elevated position in the dress circle where the value is usually found from the rear of row H. Buying tickets in these sections for midweek performances outside school holidays can produce substantial savings and there is nothing at all wrong with the view.
Is It Possible To Find Discount Tickets At The Novello Theatre Online?
The short answer to this is yes. It will always depend on how busy the West End is on that particular day though so you will need to check for discount tickets online on a regular basis to get the best deals. Good times to see this show from a financial point of view would be directly after both the Autumn and February half term holidays where people are either saving up for Christmas or still trying to pay for it!
Is It Best To Book Lastminute Tickets At The Novello Theatre Or Should I Book In Advance?
This is not an easy question to answer as it all depends on the availability for that particular week. The producers of shows tend as a rule of thumb to discount about a week in advance (although this is not an exact science and not always the case) but also by definition the later you leave it the less ticket stock there is to choose from! If you are going to see the show during peak times such as weekends or school holidays then it is advisable to book in advance to secure the best seats available as it is unlikely that tickets to popular shows will go down for these performances. If you are a bargain hunter booking off peak during quiet weeks then buying last-minute tickets on the day whether it is online or through the shops in and around Leicester Square can bring big savings if you look for them.
