Phoenix Theatre
Sections:
Theatre build date:
1930
History:
One of an unusually large number of theatres that opened in London in 1930, the Phoenix is built on the site of a bawdy entertainment house that housed a gambling den downstairs and ‘posing models’ on its upper floors. The Phoenix theatre itself opened with a triumphantly successful play, the premiere of Noel Coward’s Private Lives with an impressive cast including Coward, Gertrude Lawrence and a young Laurence Olivier.
The theatre’s next play, Late Night Final, was equally successful but the failure of subsequent productions led to the Phoenix being converted to a mere variety venue. It was not until the return of Noel Coward in 1936 with his triple bill of one-act plays Tonight at 8:30 that the Phoenix began drawing in the crowds again.
Despite a great number of flops, more successful productions at the Phoenix have included Love For Love (1940), the long running Canterbury Tales (1968) and Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods (1990). Blood Brothers transferred from the Lyric theatre in 1991 and is the Phoenix’s longest running production to date.
Previously showing:
Dancing at Lughnasa (1991)
Into The Woods (1990)
The Wild Duck (1990)
Salome (1990)
The Baker’s Wife (1989)
The Life of Napoleon (1989)
Close to:
Centre Point
Tottenham Court Road
Contact Details
Phoenix Theatre
Charing Cross Road
WC2H 0JP
For all ticket enquiries, call:
0871 789 1004
Map
Facilities
Theatre capacity:
1,012
Stage door location:
The Phoenix Theatre stage door is on Charing Cross Road.
Theatre layout:
Arranged on three levels: the stalls, Dress Circle and Upper Circle, the high and narrow stage of the Phoenix means that the view is rather uncomfortable for the front row of the stalls and from end seats in stalls A-K, all rows in the Dress Circle and in row A of the Upper Circle.
The back row of the Dress Circle (K) suffers only very slightly from the overhang of the Upper Circle, while the Upper Circle generally offers fantastic views and real value for money.
Air conditioned:
Yes
