History of Lyric Theatre:
The Lyric Theatre opened on 17 December 1888 on Shaftesbury Avenue (where it is currently oldest theatre on the street). It was originally built for Henry J Leslie as a home for operettas, but over the years has become more associated with straight dramas, comedies, and musicals.
Whilst the theatre retains a lot of its original features (including the 1767 house front it was built behind), it refurbished the foyer and bars in 1932-33, and the façade was restored in 1994.
One of the theatres most successful productions was 1950’s The Little Hut, which ran for 1,261 performances. Tragedy struck during a production of Loot in 1984, when Leonard Rossiter suddenly passed away due to heart troubles whilst waiting to go onstage. The Really Useful Group purchased the Lyric in 2000.
Lyric Theatre Seating Plan:
Lyric Theatre News:
- West End Musical Christmas comes to Lyric Theatre on 19 December 2022
- 2.22 A Ghost Story transfers to Lyric Theatre in January 2023
- La Voix’s Eighth Wonder of the World comes to Lyric Theatre
- West End Musical Christmas returns to the Lyric Theatre on 20 Dec
- REVIEW ROUND UP: Get Up Stand Up!, Lyric Theatre London
- INTERVIEW: Joe Beighton, Musical Supervisor of Six the musical
- Bob Marley musical to open at Lyric Shaftesbury – Get Up Stand Up
- SIX extends Lyric Theatre season by eleven weeks
- Jennifer Saunders comes to the Lyric Theatre London for one night only.
- An Evening With Kathy Burke Live comes to Lyric Theatre
