Prince of Wales Theatre

• 1. Founding And Early Years

  ›

  The first theatre on the site opened in January 1884 when C.J. Phipps built the Prince's Theatre for actor-manager Edgar Bruce. It was a traditional three-tier theatre, seating just over 1,000 people. The theatre was renamed the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1886 after the future Edward VII. Located between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, the theatre was favourably situated to attract theatregoers. The first production in the theatre was an 1884 revival of W. S. Gilbert's The Palace of Truth starring Herbert Beerbohm Tree. This was soon followed by a free adaptation of Ibsen's A Doll's House, called Breaking a Butterfly. In 1885, Lillie Langtry, reputedly the first society lady to become an actress, played in Princess George and The School for Scandal. The first hit production at the theatre was the record-breaking comic opera, Dorothy, starring Marie Tempest. Its authors used the profits to build the Lyric Theatre, where it moved in 1888. On the 23rd of December 1886, Henry Savile Clarke and Walter Slaughter's musical Alice in Wonderland debuted at the theatre. Lewis Carroll attended a performance seven days later.

• 2. Rebuilding The Art Deco Era

  ›

  After 50 years, the theatre's 800 seats were deemed insufficient for productions of the day, and it was demolished. On the 17th of June 1937, Gracie Fields sang to the workmen as she laid the foundation stone of the new Art Deco-decorated theatre. Robert Cromie designed the venue, which opened on the 27th of October that year. The new theatre's seating capacity was about 1,100, and it had a larger stage and improved facilities for both the artists and the public. A large, stylish stalls bar stretched 14 metres long, complete with dance floor. The first productions at the new theatre were Les Folies de Paris et Londres, starring George Robey. Folies De Can-Can followed in 1938, running continuously until 2 am every night. In 1941 the theatre screened the UK premiere of Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator. The film had been banned in many parts of Europe, and the theatre's owner, Alfred Esdaile, was fined for showing it. In 1946, a revue called Piccadilly Hayride ran for 778 performances.

• 3. Mid Century Variety Stars

  ›

  In the 1950s, the theatre hosted variety and revues, starring such famous performers as Norman Wisdom, Peter Sellers, Bob Hope, Gracie Fields, Benny Hill, Hughie Green, Frankie Howerd, and Morecambe and Wise. In 1958, Bernard Delfont and Michael Dorfman took over the lease of the theatre from Moss Empires. On the 4th of November 1963, The Beatles performed From Me to You, She Loves You, Till There Was You, and Twist and Shout at the Prince of Wales Theatre. They appeared during the Royal Variety Show in the presence of The Queen Mother and her younger daughter. Neil Simon's play, Come Blow Your Horn, starring Michael Crawford, played in 1962. Next came a season of Martha Graham's dance company, including the world première of her ballet Circe. A string of Broadway musicals followed, including Funny Girl in 1966 with Barbra Streisand. Sweet Charity arrived in 1967, and Promises, Promises opened in 1969. The Threepenny Opera was revived in 1972.

• 4. Musical Theatre Dominance

  ›

  Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects of Love smashed all previous box-office records at the theatre in 1989. It ran for 1,325 performances. Refurbishment was carried out in 2004 to increase the seating capacity slightly to 1,160 seats and to modernise the theatre's facilities. New bars were added, the auditorium completely rebuilt, and backstage areas refurbished. The theatre re-opened with ABBA's musical Mamma Mia! on the 16th of April 2004. On the 18th of August 2007, Mamma Mia! became the longest-running show at the time at the Prince of Wales. It overtook the previous record held by Aspects of Love with 1,326 performances. The production marked another landmark on Thursday the 23rd of August 2007, celebrating its 3,500th performance since its 1999 world premiere. The production left the theatre on the 1st of September 2012 and transferred to the Novello Theatre on the 6th of September 2012. After a short run of Let it Be, before it transferred to the Savoy for a short run, the theatre is now home to The Book of Mormon.

• 5. Modern Refurbishment And Current Use

  ›

  The Book of Mormon has become the theatre's longest running musical. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Book of Mormon was forced to close in March 2020. On the 2nd of August 2021, the theatre re-opened with The Windsors: Endgame based on the Channel 4 sitcom The Windsors. The Windsors played its final performance on the 9th of October 2021. The Book of Mormon reopened on the 15th of November 2021. On the 6th of June 2024 The Book of Mormon celebrated its 4,000th performance at the theatre. The theatre was grade II listed by English Heritage in April 1999. Extensive refurbishment in 2004 included gutting the theatre's famous tower and exterior completely. New LED lighting and a crisp modern finish were applied to the structure. Sir Cameron Mackintosh funded the extensive renovation as its current owner. The venue continues to host major productions while maintaining its historic status within London's West End district.