The Vaudeville Theatre is a west-end theatre located on the Strand. The theatre, as the name suggests, stages mostly vaudeville and comedy shows and musical revues and first opened its doors to the public in 1870. It has been rebuilt twice, although each time, the new building retained core elements of the previous one. The current theatre opened in 1926, and the seating capacity is now 690.
The theatre was designed by architect C.J. Phipps and decorated by George Gordon in a beautiful Romanesque style, opening in April 1870 staging the comedy 'For Love Or Money' along with a burlesque show called 'Don Carlos Or The Infant In Arms.'
One notable innovation in the theatre was concealed footlights, which shut off if the glass broke in front of them. William Wybrow Robertson, the owner of the theatre had previously run a billiard hall on the site but now saw more opportunity in theatre and so leased the venue to a trio of actors, Thomas Thorne, David James, and H.J. Montague.
The original structure stood nestled behind two houses on the Strand, with the entrance located through a labyrinth of small corridors. It had a seating capacity of 1,046, designed in a rising horseshoe style, over a pit, and featured three galleries, however, the cramped site meant that there were limited facilities both front and backstage.
A proposed redevelopment in 1968 of Covent Garden by the GLC saw the theatre under threat, together with other nearby venues but was thwarted by an active campaign by ta collaboration of Equity, theatre owners, and the musicians union who came together under the banner of the 'Save The London Theatres Campaign'.
Notable productions and performances that have featured at the Vaudeville Theatre include Cicely Courtneidge, who starred at the theatre in 'The Bride Comes Back' in 1960, Ray Cooney's 'Move Over Mrs Markham' in 1971, and Bill Treacher making his west-end debut in the comedy 'Shout For Life' in 1963.
Resident owners, the Gatti family sold their interest in the theatre in 1969 to Sir Peter Saunders and the following year Peter Rice was commissioned to redesign the interior. Changes were made including a deep red wallpaper that covered the auditorium and more comfortable seats with the loggia above the street glazed turning the balcony into an extension of the bar. Other modifications included backstage lighting being rerigged, and the installation of a forestage lift and counterweight flying system. In 1972 the theatre received protection when it became Grade II listed by English Heritage.
Ownership of the venue passed onto David Sutton and Michael Codron in 1983 followed by Stephen Waley-Cohen who bought the theatre in 1996 and subsequently sold it in 2002 to Max Weitzenhofer before the current owners, Nimax Theatres Limited took ownership in 2005.
London theatre tickets to all productions at the Vaudeville Theatre can be booked securely through this website.
FAQ's About Booking Tickets To The Vaudeville Theatre
How Can I Book Cheap Tickets To The Vaudeville Theatre?
market forces will always eventually dictate the price of tickets and popular shows tend to expensive during peak times. For bargain hunters looking for cheap tickets it would be a good idea to avoid both weekends and school holidays when demand will usually outweigh supply and will reflect on the price. If you must book during busy periods then the upper circle will usually deliver some value in the price.
Are There Ever Discount Tickets To The Vaudeville Theatre?
It is rare to see official discount tickets for the most popular productions either online or in the retail outlets in and around Leicester Square, however during the quiet weeks following on from school holidays and also the off peak months of November, January and February there is usually good value to be found as producers attempt to fill the theatre and tend to offer good deals to agents and suppliers which they can then pass onto the consumer.
Are Upper Circle Tickets At The Vaudeville Theatre Good Value?
This will usually depend on the production however as it is not the largest of theatres the West End has to offer there does tend to be some value for upper circle tickets at the Vaudeville as there is very little restricted view seating so the only real issue is the height above the stage.
What Section Of The Theatre Should I Book Tickets At The Vaudeville In?
This really depends on whether you prefer to be seated in the stalls on the ground floor looking directly at the stage or on the first floor in the dress circle looking down at the stage from an elevated position? Both sections have their own merits and also several different price bands to choose from, which should be noted and taken into account as this could be a major factor when deciding which tickets to book? The upper circle also offers value in the price but as they are situated on the second floor these seats are generally speaking not as good as the other two sections. It is always advisable to check the seating plan before you buy theatre tickets at the Vaudeville to ensure maximum value for money as finding the cut off rows for the different price bands can bring big savings.
