The Wyndham’s Theatre is one of the most famous in the West End, being renowned as very much the actor’s theatre.
Named after Charles Wyndham, who owned it, paid for the construction and starred in its shows, Wyndham’s Theatre originally opened in 1899. Wyndham had always dreamed of building a theatre of his own, an ambition realised when the venue opened its doors for the first time in the presence of the Prince of Wales. The theatre has since gone on to host many of the UK’s most celebrated actors: Dame Judi Dench, Jude Law and Derek Jacobi to name but a few. The theatre was designed by the architect W G R Sprague in the Louis XVI style.
The venue is one of two opened by Wyndham, the other being the Criterion Theatre. It was originally designed to seat 759 visitors over three levels, with a fourth added in later refurbishment. The theatre was Grade II listed by English Heritage in September 1960.
Famous productions which have taken place at the venue include Godspell in the 1970s, starring David Essex and Jeremy Irons, and Up For Grabs in 2002, which saw the one and only Madonna make her West End debut in a sell-out production. In May 2005, the theatre was purchased by Cameron Mackintosh’s Delfont-Mackintosh Ltd.
The Wyndham’s Theatre is located right next to Leicester Square Underground Station, in the very heart of London’s Theatreland, meaning you easily can get home in time after the show for the news and a cuppa’.