Theatre
Gielgud Theatre
London, United Kingdom·Est. 1906·986 seats
musicaltheatre
Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 6AR
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.
On Stage Tonight
Now Playing at Gielgud Theatre
The Experience
Acoustics, seating, and what to expect
Acoustics
The theatre is noted for its intimate acoustic character despite its capacity, with Sennheiser infra-red hearing enhancement systems installed to support sound clarity.
Best Seats
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.
Dress Code
Smart Casual
Visitor Guide
Tickets, pricing, and getting there
Getting There
Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines); Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern lines); Covent Garden (Piccadilly line). Multiple bus routes serve Shaftesbury Avenue.
Around the Venue
Plan your visit — dining, transit, and performer resources nearby
Green Room — London
Performer City Guide
4 practice spaces, 2 wellness, 1 vocal coaches
- Royal College of Music — Practice Rooms
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.
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama — Practice Rooms
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.
- Stiles & Bates
Hosting Broadway and West End casts during tech and dress rehearsals, and being the go-to space for last-minute performance preparations
Book studios by the hour through your agent or production company; many performers reserve space the week before opening night.
Available 24/7 for bookings; rates vary by studio size and duration
- The Royal Academy of MusicWebsite
Its world-class voice coaches, its association with preparing young singers for professional careers, and its historic faculty of professional singers
Many RAM voice coaches also work as freelance coaches outside the academy; ask the box office at the ROH or Barbican for recommendations of RAM-affiliated coaches.
Lessons available by appointment; contact the academy for coach recommendations
Open city guidePatron
Venue Details
Architect
W. G. R. Sprague
Architecture
Louis XVI
Heritage
Grade II Listed Building
Organization
Delfont Mackintosh
Now Playing
Current productions at Gielgud Theatre
Insider Access
Rush, lottery, promo codes, and discount programs for shows at this theatre
No rush, lottery, or discount programs tracked for current shows
Accessibility
Hearing Loop
Location
Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 6AR
Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines); Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern lines); Covent Garden (Piccadilly line). Multiple bus routes serve Shaftesbury Avenue.
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