The Prince Edward Theatre is one of London’s finest Art Deco theatres. Situated on Old Compton Street in Soho, just behind Leicester Square. Built in 1929 by Griggs and Son and designed by Edward Stone the theatre opened in April 1930 with a production of Rio Rita, a musical comedy by Harry Tierney.
In 1935, Edward Stone converted the theatre to a dance and cabaret hall, being renamed the London Casino. As the London Casino, it was badly damaged in London’s worst air raid of WWII in May 1941. All neighbouring buildings across Greek Street were destroyed.
After serious restoration the theatre was renamed the Queensberry All Services Club, a club for servicemen where shows were broadcast on the BBC. Then in 1954 it had another change of fortunes, being converted into a Cinerama. Then, in 1974 it finally reopened as the Prince Edward Theatre we know today with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of Evita.
Since then, this spectacular 1,716 seat theatre has housed smash-hits like Anything Goes, Some Like It Hot, West Side Story, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Jersey Boys, Miss Saigon and now Disney’s Aladdin.