The Cinema Haymarket
Sections:
Theatre build date:
1927
History:
The Carlton Theatre on the Haymarket was designed for use as both a live theatre and a cinema, although when it opened in 1927 its first production, the musical play Lady Luck ran for a hugely successful 324 performances before any film was shown there.
The Carlton successfully juggled film and live entertainment until 1960, when an Anthony Newley variety performance became the last live performance before the venue became simply the Carlton Cinema.
In 1977, much of the building was demolished by property developers and what was left was converted into three intimate cinema screening rooms, with screen 1 seating 488 and screens 2 and 3 each seating around 200, and the Carlton became the Odeon.
In January 2008, screen 1 was converted especially for Kneehigh Productions’ acclaimed adaptation of Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter. Located in what was the original Carlton’s balcony, screen one has been redecorated and equipped with a stage and orchestra pit to become the Cinema Haymarket. By happy coincidence, the celebrated film version of Brief Encounter actually received its world premiere at the Carlton in 1945.
Previously called:
Carlton Theatre
Carlton Cinema
Odeon Haymarket
Contact Details
The Cinema Haymarket
Cineworld Haymarket
Haymarket
SW1Y 4RL
For all ticket enquiries, call:
0871 789 1004
Facilities
Theatre capacity:
488
Stage door location:
The Cinema Haymarket’s stage door is the Odeon’s back entrance, accessible via a network of small streets that link the Haymarket to Jermyn Street.
Theatre layout:
The Cinema Haymarket is of course a converted cinema screen so seats are all raked with a clear, completely unrestricted view of the action.
An aisle divides the seating into a front and rear section between rows L and M and the front section has two aisles running front to back, but fantastic proximity means most seats are top price. However, rows A and B are priced slightly lower because many consider them too close for comfort.
Air conditioned:
Yes
