The Gielgud Theatre is a grand Edwardian house on Shaftesbury Avenue, renamed in 1994 in honor of Sir John Gielgud. Designed by W. G. R. Sprague and opened in 1906 as the Hicks Theatre, its 986-seat auditorium has been home to some of the most celebrated theatrical productions in West End history.
Acoustics, seating, and what to expect
The theatre is noted for its intimate acoustic character despite its capacity, with Sennheiser infra-red hearing enhancement systems installed to support sound clarity.
In the Stalls, rows G to J in the central section offer the finest balance of proximity and sightlines, with rows E to L generally excellent. Dress Circle rows A to D centre provide exceptional views with an intimate feel. Grand Circle rows A to C centre offer surprising value with full appreciation of production design. Avoid front Stalls rows A to D, where the stage angle becomes problematic.
Smart Casual
Tickets, pricing, and getting there
Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines); Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern lines); Covent Garden (Piccadilly line). Multiple bus routes serve Shaftesbury Avenue.
Plan your visit — dining, transit, and performer resources nearby
Green Room — London
3 practice spaces
Book online through the RCM website. Rates are competitive (£15-25/hour for a room with a grand piano). The RCM building itself — Alfred Waterhouse's 1894 Gothic Revival red-brick — is extraordinary. The Museum of Music in the basement (free) has one of the finest instrument collections in the world.
Public room hire available through the Guildhall website. Rates similar to RCM (£15-25/hour). The Guildhall's Milton Court building (opened 2013) has state-of-the-art rehearsal facilities and a 600-seat concert hall. The Barbican's café is the waiting room.
The Greenwich location is a longer journey from central London (DLR or Overground to Greenwich, 20-25 min from central London), but the facilities and the setting are extraordinary. The Painted Hall and Chapel of the Old Royal Naval College are UNESCO World Heritage sites — worth visiting regardless.
Architect
W. G. R. Sprague
Architecture
Louis XVI
Heritage
Grade II Listed Building
Organization
Delfont Mackintosh
Current productions at Gielgud Theatre
Rush, lottery, promo codes, and discount programs for shows at this theatre
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Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines); Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern lines); Covent Garden (Piccadilly line). Multiple bus routes serve Shaftesbury Avenue.