The Trafalgar Theatre (known previously as 'Trafalgar Studios' and 'The Whitehall Theatre') is a west-end theatre situated on Whitehall on the south side of Trafalgar Square. The theatre received a Grade II listing from English Heritage in 1996.
The new 'Trafalgar Theatre opened in 2021 with the production of the popular juke box musical 'Jersey Boys', following a major multi-million pound restoration project reinstating it back to its original heritage design. The original building was built in 1930 with interiors designed in Art Deco style and regularly staged comedies and revues. In the 1990's it was converted into a television and radio studio before returning to theatrical use as 'Trafalgar Studios' in 2004.
The original building, named the 'Whitehall Theatre', was built on the site of the 17th century Ye Old Ship Tavern and was designed by Edward A. Stone. The theatre opened on September 29th, 1930 with a production of 'The Way To Treat A Woman' by the theatre's licensee, Walter Hackett.
Before leaving in 1934, Hackett presented several other plays of his own, and the theatre built a solid reputation for staging modern comedies throughout the rest of the 1930s. During the following decade, the theatre housed mainly revues were commonplace entertainment in London during this period. A notable production at the theatre was 'The Whitehall Follies', starring Phillis Dixey, who became the very first stripper to perform live in the theatre district in 1942, to great fanfare and was an immediate success. Dixey then leased the theatre and remained there for the next five years.
Over the next two decades, a series of farces were presented under the umbrella title 'The Whitehall Farces' by Lord Brian Rix with many of them shown on TV.
A nude revue called 'Pyjama Tops' took over the venue in 1969 and remained for five years, after which the building was closed down. Following a considerable refurbishment program it reopened in March 1986 with the successful revival of J.B. Priestley's 'When We Are Married', followed by subsequent productions including 'The Foreigner, and 'The Importance Of Being Earnest'
From 1997 until 1999, the theatre was converted into a TV and radio studio before it returned to theatrical use, with such productions as 'Three Sisters', 'Art', and 'Rat Pack Confidential' before the Ambassador Theatre Group announced that the building was to be reconfigured and reopened under a new name.
London theatre tickets to all productions at the Trafalgar Theatre including The Duchess can be booked securely through this website.