THEATRE & DANCE
Currently theatres in London are closed but many have online productions and virtual tours.
Southbank Centre
There’s always something to see and do at Southbank Centre, the bustling arts centre by the river Thames. See shows and exhibitions, take part in vibrant festivals, and look out for free music and events. Enjoy a drink or a meal in one of the many bars and restaurants or soak up the atmosphere at the iconic Royal Festival Hall. In addition to the Royal Festival Hall, the expansive site includes Hayward Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Rooms and the Poetry Library. The arts centre hosts a festival programme of over 5000 events every year across the genres of art, theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, literature and debate.
Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare’s Globe is a world-renowned performing arts venue, cultural attraction and education centre located on the bank of the River Thames in London, UK. We celebrate Shakespeare’s transformative impact on the world by conducting a radical theatrical experiment.
Home to the Globe Theatre and Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, there are guided tours, a gift shop, bar and restaurant on-site.
Bridge Theatre
The Bridge is the first theatre run by London Theatre Company which was founded by Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr in 2017. Tim Levy later joined them as co-directors in 2020. The Bridge focuses on the commissioning and production of new shows, as well as staging the occasional classic. The new 900-seat auditorium is designed to be flexible and can be adapted for a variety of performance styles, resulting in hugely successful immersive theatre as well as more traditional end on and thrust- stage shows. It is the first wholly new theatre of scale to be added to London’s commercial theatre sector in 80 years.
Menier Chocolate Factory
The Menier Chocolate Factory is an off-West End theatre located on Southwark Street, London, and comprises a theatre, restaurant, bar, and rehearsal space. Hailed by the Evening Standard as being “one of the most dynamic fringe venues in London”, the Menier Chocolate Factory stages plays, and musicals, and hosts live music as well as stand-up comedy. The theatre occupies, as the name suggests, an old chocolate factory building that had been abandoned and left derelict since the 1980’s. Revived and re-opened in 2004 as The Menier Chocolate Factory, the theatre is managed by artistic director David Babani, and has received awards and praise for performances and the unique venue itself. Just a year after its opening, the theatre received the Peter Brook/Empty Space Up and Coming Venue Award, and in the same year also swept up the Evening Standard Milton Shulman Award of Outstanding Newcomer.
Unicorn Theatre
On Tooley Street is the Unicorn Theatre, one of the UK’s best children’s theatres. The award-winning theatre has activities planned around the year for everyone. Ticket prices start from £8 only.
Old Vic
The Old Vic is London’s independent not-for-profit theatre, a world leader in creativity and entertainment. Artistic Director Matthew Warchus is building on 201 years of creative adventure, with The Old Vic recently being hailed as ‘London’s most eclectic and frequently electrifying theatre’. The Old Vic is mercurial: it can transform into a theatre in the round, a space for live music and comedy, has played host to opera, dance, cinema, music hall, classical dramas, variety, big spectacles and novelty acts. It was the original home of the English National Opera, the Sadler’s Wells dance company and the National Theatre. It’s also been a tavern, a college, a coffee house, a lecture hall and a meeting place with grand historic décor. “We hold the belief that theatre needs to be supported, shared and upheld for as many people as possible. Our 1000 seats are yours from £10 a ticket. Our productions are diverse, adventurous, new, epic, exciting. Our education and talent programmes allow students to explore and artists of tomorrow to create. Our building is open and alive day and night. Our theatre is yours.”
Seat Plan
SeatPlan launched in 2011 to help theatregoers book the best seats with an interactive seating plan for every West End venue. Our unique booking experience allows users to select their own seats whilst looking at thousands of user-uploaded ‘view from seat’ photos to make the most informed decision when booking theatre tickets, whatever the budget. All of our photos are uploaded by real theatregoers sharing their experiences. No CGI, no polish, no fakes. SeatPlan aggregates tickets and prices from three different suppliers to give buyers access to the best deals and widest availability across performances and price bands. They are a full member of STAR (Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers), which regulates the sale of London theatre tickets.