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Trafalgar Theatre

(Redirected from Whitehall Theatre)
This article is about the theatre in London currently known as "Trafalgar Theatre". For the theatre in London formerly known as "Trafalgar Theatre", see Duke of York's Theatre. For the theatre in New York City formerly known as "Trafalgar Theatre", see Nederlander Theatre. For the recording studio in Sydney, Australia, see Annandale, New South Wales § Music.
"Trafalgar Studios" redirects here. For the former artists' studios, see Trafalgar Studios, Chelsea.

Trafalgar Theatre is a West End theatre in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, in the City of Westminster, London. The Grade II listed building was built in 1930 with interiors in the Art Deco style as the Whitehall Theatre; it regularly staged comedies and revues. It was converted into a television and radio studio in the 1990s, before returning to theatrical use in 2004 as Trafalgar Studios, the name it bore until 2020, with the auditorium converted to two studio spaces. It re-opened in 2021 following a major multi-million pound project to reinstate it to its original single-auditorium design.

Trafalgar Theatre
Whitehall Theatre (prior to 2004), Trafalgar Studios (2004-2020)
As Trafalgar Studios in 2007
Map
AddressWhitehall
London, SW1
United Kingdom
Public transitLondon Underground Charing Cross
National Rail Charing Cross
OwnerTrafalgar Entertainment Group
DesignationGrade II
TypeWest End theatre
Capacity630 seats
ProductionThe Duchess
Construction
Opened29 September 1930; 94 years ago (1930-09-29)
Rebuilt2004 (Tim Foster and John Muir) / 2020 (Foster Wilson Architects)
ArchitectEdward A. Stone
Website
Trafalgar Theatre website

History

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1930 to 1996

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The original Whitehall Theatre, built on the site of the 17th century Ye Old Ship Tavern was designed by Edward A. Stone, with interiors in the Art Deco style by Marc-Henri and Laverdet. It had 634 seats.[1] The theatre opened on 29 September 1930 with The Way to Treat a Woman by Walter Hackett, who was the theatre's licensee. In November 1933 Henry Daniell appeared there as Portman in Afterwards. Hackett presented several other plays of his own before leaving in 1934, and the theatre built its reputation for modern comedies throughout the rest of the decade. During World War II it housed revues, which had become commonplace entertainment throughout the West End. In 1942, The Whitehall Follies, featuring Phyllis Dixey, the first stripper to perform in the theatre district, opened with great fanfare and became an immediate success. Dixey leased the theatre and remained in it for the next five years.

 
The Whitehall Theatre pictured in 1981.

A series of five long-running farces, presented under the umbrella title "Whitehall farce" by the actor-manager Brian Rix, were staged at the theatre from 1950 to 1966: Reluctant Heroes, by Colin Morris (1950–54); Dry Rot, by John Chapman (1954–58); Simple Spymen (1958–61); One For the Pot, by Ray Cooney and Tony Hilton (1961–64); and Chase Me, Comrade, by Cooney (1964–66). Excerpts from the shows were televised by the BBC.[2][3][4]

The building was acquired in 1971 by Paul Raymond who was producer of a nude review that had opened there in 1969 called Pyjama Tops, it ran for five years after which productions including Ipi Tombi and Anyone for Denis? had successful runs. The building was shuttered until July 1982 when a production of Private Dick starring Robert Powell ran for 16 weeks. It then briefly housed an exhibition of World War II memorabilia known as The Whitehall Theatre of War. Acquired from the Paul Raymond Organisation in 1985 by Maybox Theatres the Theatre came under the direction of Ian Albery. After considerable refurbishment that retained most of its Art Deco features, it reopened on 5 March 1986 with a successful revival of J.B. Priestley's When We Are Married. Subsequent productions included When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout by Sharman Macdonald, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Foreigner, Run For Your Wife, Absurd Person Singular, Travels with My Aunt, tributes to Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and the Blues Brothers, and solo performances by Ennio Marchetto and Maria Friedman.

1997 to 2020

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Between 1997 and 1999, the theatre was converted into a television and radio studio used primarily to broadcast Jack Docherty's talk show and BBC Radio 4's Live from London. It returned to theatrical use, with such productions as Three Sisters, Puppetry of the Penis, "Art", Rat Pack Confidential, and Sing-a-Long-a-ABBA, before its owner, the Ambassador Theatre Group, announced the building would be reconfigured and reopen with a new name.

The current building contains two intimate theatres designed by architects Tim Foster and John Muir. Studio 1, the larger of the two spaces with 380 seats, opened on 3 June 2004 with the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Othello. Studio 2, with 100 seats, opened in October 2005 with the play Cyprus.[5][6]

Since 2004, Trafalgar Studios has presented short runs of revivals of classic plays and musicals, including Sweeney Todd (2004); Losing Louis (2005); a season by the RSC repertory season, from December 2005 to February 2006, of plays including Sir Thomas More, Sejanus: His Fall and Believe What You Will; an adaptation of Jane Eyre by Polly Teale (2006); Bent (2006–07); Elling (2007); Dealer's Choice (2007–08); Fat Pig (2008, transferring to the Comedy Theatre); Entertaining Mr Sloane (2009) and A Christmas Carol (2010–11). Three Days in May showed at the theatre from November 2011 to March 2012.

The theatre was Grade II listed by English Heritage in December 1996, noting "The auditorium has a decorative cohesion and prettiness rare in theatres of its day, and has the best surviving original fabric of this type of theatre".[7]

In May 2016, Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire, founders and former owners of Ambassador Theatre Group, announced they were stepping down from ATG to set up their own production company called Trafalgar Entertainment Group (TEG), which would take control of Trafalgar Studios.[8]

2020 to present

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In May 2020, planning permission was granted to return the premises to a 630-seat theatre. Since the building's listed status meant the 2004 changes had to be reversible, it was possible for the theatre to be restored to its previous form.[9] Westminster City Council granted the necessary planning permission and listed building consents to carry out the work. The venue closed earlier than expected in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and building work on the theatre began in the summer. On 27 October, Trafalgar Entertainment announced that the theatre would re-open as Trafalgar Theatre in Spring 2021. The restoration resulted in the restoration of a new single auditorium at an increased capacity and a larger stage, matching other theatre venues such as the Duke of York's and Vaudeville theatres. All seats at Trafalgar Theatre are on just two levels, stalls and dress circle. The redevelopment was overseen by Foster Wilson Architects.[10][11][12] On 30 October, it was announced that Jersey Boys would be opening the new Trafalgar Theatre in April 2021.[13] However, its opening was delayed to July 2021.[14]

Recent productions

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Notable productions at the theater
Opening year Name Refs.
2025 Clueless [15]
2024 The Merchant of Venice 1936 starring Tracy-Ann Oberman [16]
2024 The Duchess (of Malfi) starring Jodie Whittaker [17]
2024 The 39 Steps [18]
2024 A Mirror starring Jonny Lee Miller [19]
2021 Jersey Boys [20]
2020 On Blueberry Hill [21]
2019 A Taste of Honey starring Jodie Prenger [22]
2019 A Day in the Death of Joe Egg starring Toby Stephens and Claire Skinner [23]
2019 Equus [24]
2019 Education, Education, Education written and devised by The Wardrobe Ensemble [25]
2019 Admissions starring Alex Kingston [26]
2018 Nine Night [27]
2018 Misty [28]
2018 Killer Joe starring Orlando Bloom [29]
2017 The Grinning Man [30]
2017 Apologia starring Stockard Channing and Freema Agyeman; written by Alexi Kaye Campbell) [31]
2016 The Naked Magicians [32]
2015 The Ruling Class starring James McAvoy [33]
2014 East Is East starring Jane Horrocks and Ayub Khan-Din [34]
2014 Richard III starring Martin Freeman [35]
2014 Another Country [36]
2013 The Pride [37]
2013 The Hothouse starring John Simm and Simon Russell Beale [38]
2013 Macbeth starring James McAvoy and Claire Foy [39]
2011 Three Days in May [40]

Nearby Tube stations

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Notes

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  1. ^ Gaye, p. 1555.
  2. ^ "12 Successful Years for Mr. Brian Rix". The Times. 13 September 1962, p. 12.
  3. ^ Gaye, pp. 1530–38.
  4. ^ Smith, p. 91.
  5. ^ "Trafalgar Studios London – Tickets, Location & Seating Plan". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Venues: Trafalgar Studios 1". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Images of England". English Heritage. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  8. ^ "Theatre's power couple step back from ATG to run Trafalgar Studios". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  9. ^ Masso, Giverny (4 May 2020). "Trafalgar Studios granted planning permission to merge two spaces into single auditorium". The Stage. London. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  10. ^ Thomas, Sophie (5 May 2020). "Trafalgar Studios to be converted into single auditorium". London Theatre. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  11. ^ Lukowski, Andrzej (30 October 2020). "A new theatre is opening in the West End!". Time Out London. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Trafalgar Studios to merge spaces and relaunch as Trafalgar Theatre in 2021". The Stage.
  13. ^ Hershberg, Marc (30 October 2020). "How One Producer Is Trying To Save The West End Theatre Industry". Forbes. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Jersey Boys announces new dates at Trafalgar Theatre". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Clueless A New Musical sets West End debut at the Trafalgar Theatre in London". West End Theatre. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  16. ^ "The Merchant of Venice 1936 to return for West End run and UK tour". WhatsOnStage. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  17. ^ "The Duchess (of Malfi) with Jodie Whittaker reveals complete cast". WhatsOnStage. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  18. ^ "The 39 Steps to return to the West End this summer". WhatsOnStage. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  19. ^ "'A Mirror' to transfer to the West End, starring Jonny Lee Miller". London Theatre. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  20. ^ "JERSEY BOYS TO OPEN TRAFALGAR THEATRE! - Trafalgar Theatre".
  21. ^ "On Blueberry Hill review, Trafalgar Studios, London, 2020". The Stage. London. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  22. ^ "A Taste of Honey review – sweet songs and sour love". The Guardian. London. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Review: A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (Trafalgar Studios)". WhatsOnStage. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Equus". Stratford East. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  25. ^ "The Wardrobe Ensemble: Education, Education, Education - Trafalgar Studios". Shoreditch Town Hall. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Admissions star Alex Kingston: 'Similarities with the US college scandal are extraordinary'". Evening Standard. London. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Nine Night at Trafalgar Studios". National Theatre. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Review: Misty (Trafalgar Studios)". WhatsOnStage. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Killer Joe: Why Orlando Bloom wanted to play a misogynist and a sociopath". BBC News. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Review: The Grinning Man (Trafalgar Studios)". WhatsOnStage. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  31. ^ Billington, Michael (4 August 2017). "Apologia review – Stockard Channing induces sympathy for a monstrous matriarch". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  32. ^ "The Naked Magicians Trafalgar Studios London". www.officialtheatre.com. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  33. ^ "The Ruling Class (Trafalgar Studios)". WhatsOnStage. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  34. ^ "East is East (Trafalgar Studios)". WhatsOnStage. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  35. ^ Mitford, Oliver (14 April 2014). "Star of The Hobbit Martin Freeman to play Richard III". BestofTheatre. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  36. ^ Spencer, Charles (3 April 2014). "Another Country, Trafalgar Studios, review". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  37. ^ "The Pride, Trafalgar Studios - theatre review". Evening Standard. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  38. ^ "The Hothouse – review". The Guardian. London. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  39. ^ "Review: Macbeth starring James McAvoy, Trafalgar Studio 1, London". The Independent. London. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  40. ^ "Theatre Review: Three Days In May @ Trafalgar Studios". Londonist. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2020.

References

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  • Earl, John; Sell, Michael, eds. (2000). Guide to British Theatres 1750–1950. A. & C. Black. pp. 146–7. ISBN 978-0-7136-5688-6. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  • Theatre history
  • Who's Who in the Theatre, edited by John Parker, tenth edition, revised, London, 1947, pps: 477–478.
  • Gaye, Freda, ed. (1967). Who's Who in the Theatre (fourteenth ed.). London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons. OCLC 5997224.
  • Smith, Leslie (1989). Modern British Farce: A Selective Study of British Farce from Pinero to the Present Day. Basingstoke: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-3334-4878-6.
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51°30′24″N 0°07′39″W / 51.5066°N 0.1275°W / 51.5066; -0.1275

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