British Theatre

Venue

unicorn-theatre

4.7 · 693 Google reviews Box office closed · opens 10am

The Unicorn Theatre is a children's theatre in the London Borough of Southwark, in England. It is a custom-built, RIBA Award–winning building on Tooley Street, which opened in 2005.

Photos via Google. Attributions: Christina Gulick, Francisco V, Unicorn Theatre

Google rating

4.7 ★ (693)

Venue info

The Unicorn Theatre is a children's theatre in the London Borough of Southwark, in England. It is a custom-built, RIBA Award–winning building on Tooley Street, which opened in 2005.

History

From 1944 Caryl Jenner wrote Christmas pantomimes for small-time playhouses. During performances she would make note of the behaviour of the children, recording what scenes and sequences held their attention, and which did not. In November 1949 Caryl Jenner created the Mobile Theatre Ltd. Jenner's mission was to drive around the towns of Britain, as well as isolated villages to bring theatre to new audiences. They supplemented their income by performing to adults in the evenings. In 1962, the name changed again, to the Unicorn Theatre Club. In 1967, the company gave up touring having received an annual grant from the Arts Council, took up the lease at the Arts Theatre in London, which remained its home until the present Unicorn Theatre was built in 2005. Jenner died on 29 January 1973 at the age of 55.

The current president is Juliet Stevenson, who took over from Sir Alan Ayckbourn CBE in 2007.

Caryl Jenner (1947–1973) Matyelok Gibbs (1973–1977) Nicholas Barter (1977–1986) Chris Wallis (1986–1990) Richard Williams (1990–1997) Tony Graham (1997–2011) Purni Morell (2011–2017) Justin Audibert (2018–2023) Rachel Bagshaw (from 2023)

The Oxford Companion to the Theatre, Phyllis Hartnoll (ed), Oxford, 1983. ISBN 0-19-211546-4.

Box office hours

Box office closed · opens 10am

  • Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

These are the box office (ticket desk) hours supplied by Google. The theatre itself opens around 45 minutes before curtain-up — always check your ticket for the performance start time. You can book online any time through British Theatre.

Accessibility

Available at this venue:

  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible seating
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet

Accessibility information supplied by Google Maps. Please contact the venue directly to confirm details for your visit.

What visitors say

5.0 · a month ago
I have been here a few times now with my son - he is currently 3. There are a big mix of shows, and always something for every age. We recently saw 'Squirrel', and he absolutely loved it! The stages are perfect size for kids, and the facilities here are great, too. We will be back in a few months for 'The Lion Inside'. This is honestly such a great gem for any London families. I fully recommend it! If you think a show is expensive, look at a few others - the prices really vary.
— Amy Charlie
5.0 · 3 months ago
This cozy little theatre near London Bridge offers comfortable seating. I recommend sitting in row A in the stalls for the best view. We saw 'The Koala Who Could,' which was a charming and funny show. My friends loved it so much that we had to buy the book they were selling afterwards. She's already looking forward to coming back for another performance. The staff were friendly and professional.
— Kue Et Takahashi
5.0 · 6 months ago
We went and saw three little pigs today and it was absolutely excellent! The Theatre is really nice and easy to see the stage even if an adult is sitting in front of you - lots of different seat options. The set was excellent and the actors were so great with the kids best kids theatre that I’ve been to in a long time!
— Katie Kempthorne
5.0 · a year ago
We managed to see Pig Heart Boy, a Malorie Blackman adaptation, and what a fantastic production it was. My daughter had read the book and seen the film, so it was great to add the play to the list. The theatre is a nice intimate size, but finding the seats in the D shaped area wasn't easy. They are essentially benches with numbers that arent easy to see. There is plenty of legroom and because of the bench style seating, plenty of seating space and sitting second row from the front gave us a perfect view.
— Nicola Jones

Reviews sourced from Google Maps.

Live venue listings

REVIEW: The Show In Which Hopefully Nothing Happens, Unicorn Theatre ✭✭✭✭

15 April 2019

View listing

REVIEW: Martyr, Unicorn Theatre ✭✭✭

28 September 2015

View listing

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Frequently asked questions

What's on at unicorn-theatre?

There is no production currently on sale at unicorn-theatre. Check back soon, or browse our full list of West End shows.

How can I contact unicorn-theatre?

You can call unicorn-theatre on 020 7645 0560. For tickets and bookings, please use British Theatre to secure the best seats.

What are the box office hours at unicorn-theatre?

The unicorn-theatre box office (ticket desk) operates: Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Right now the box office is closed · opens 10am. The theatre itself opens around 45 minutes before curtain-up — and you can book online any time through British Theatre.

Is unicorn-theatre accessible?

unicorn-theatre offers wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible seating, wheelchair-accessible toilets. Please contact the venue directly if you have specific access requirements.

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