Duchess Theatre
3-5 Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5LA
Duchess Theatre Tickets
Murder, She Didn't Write
Duchess Theatre
Tickets from £23.00Experience a classic murder mystery on the spot with Murder, She Didn't Write - an ingenious improvised comedy which heads to London as part of a UK tour. A huge success with audiences during its Edinburgh Festival Fringe, be a part of your very own Agatha Christie-inspired masterpiece live on stage.
- Booking until: Monday, 24 November 2025
- Running time: 2hr. Incl. 1 interval.
- Playing at: Duchess Theatre
- Booking until: Monday, 24 November 2025
The Play That Goes Wrong
Duchess Theatre
4.7 2068 reviews 4.7 2068 reviews Tickets from £24.00The Play That Goes Wrong is an unmissable comedy, delivering laugh-out-loud moments as a fictional theatre company attempt to perform a murder mystery production collapses. Known for its brilliantly timed physical humour and unexpected mishaps, The Play That Goes Wrong is the longest-running comedy in the West End for a reason!
- Booking until: Sunday, 30 August 2026
- Running time: 2hr. Incl. 1 interval.
- Playing at: Duchess Theatre
- Booking until: Sunday, 30 August 2026
Duchess Theatre Facilities
- Bar
- Disabled toilets
- Infrared hearing loop
- Member of Q-Park scheme
- Toilets
- Wheelchair/scooter access
Duchess Theatre Access Tickets
Disabled theatregoers and their carers can get discount tickets. Please phone the Duchess Theatre access line on 0330 333 4815.
Duchess Theatre Location
Travel Information
Nearest Tube station
- Covent Garden
- Temple
Nearest Rail Station
- Charing Cross
Tube lines
- Piccadilly
- Circle
- District
Day buses
- (Aldwych) RV1, 6, 11, 13, 23, 59, 68, 87, 171, 172, 188, X68
Night buses
- (Aldwych) 6, 23, 188, N11, N13, N26, N47, N68, N87, N89, N155, N171, N551
Duchess Theatre Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to the Duchess Theatre?
The Duchess Theatre is at 3–5 Catherine Street, WC2B 5LA, just a five-minute walk from Covent Garden tube station (Piccadilly Line) and about nine minutes from Charing Cross station. If you're driving, nearby car parks include an NCP on Upper St Martin’s Lane, Masterpark at Trafalgar Square, and Q‑Park.
Is the Duchess Theatre an accessible space?
There’s step-free access to the foyer, and wheelchair users can reach the stalls via an AAT Domino stair climber. Dedicated wheelchair spaces are available in stalls (N1 and J14). An adapted toilet, infra‑red hearing assistance, and guide dog access are also provided.
What time should I get to the theatre?
Aim to arrive 30 minutes before the show starts to allow time for security checks, finding your seat, and exploring the theatre. This also gives you time to explore the merchandise stands inside the theatre for exclusive show-related items like T-shirts, mugs, posters, and cast recordings.
Is there a dress code for attendance?
Once upon a time, going to the theatre meant formal attire, but now, there’s no official dress code. Wear what makes you feel good, keep a jacket handy, and don’t hesitate to dress up if the occasion inspires you.
Can I take photos in the theatre?
Photography and video recording are strictly prohibited during the show. You may, however, take photos before and after the performance and during the final bows.
Is there a cloakroom or space to store luggage?
A small cloakroom is available at stalls level for coats and bags (charges apply and space is limited).
Duchess Theatre history
From the outside
The Duchess Theatre presents a grand, wide frontage on Catherine Street with three sets of typical late 1920s windows and a broad arched entrance complete with archetypal Art Deco typography.
Duchess Theatre architecture and history
The Duchess, one of the West End’s smallest theatres with a proscenium arch, was designed by Ewen Barr and opened for the first time in late November 1929. The old ‘ancient lights’ law, which dictated that new buildings were not allowed if they blocked the light from nearby buildings, meant the site was empty and derelict for many years before the building’s creation, after being bombed in World War One. The issue was solved by building the new theatre with its top stories set back from the main part of the building and the remainder, including the Stalls, set underground, down in the basement. A great idea… but ever since, the owners have had to pump the ground water out of the basement every now and again via a couple of vast pumps!
In 1934 the theatre was redecorated to a design proposed by the wife of JB Priestley, Mary Wyndham Lewis.
Despite its age, the Duchess Theatre still has a load of original features: the original stage curtain, now more than eighty years old, and the stage itself, as well as some of the theatre’s special backstage equipment and one of the lifts.
These days the Duchess theatre, a delightfully intimate venue with fewer than 500 seats arranged over two levels, is owned by Nimax theatres.
Past shows at the Duchess Theatre
Famous theatre productions at the Duchess include Noel Coward's smash hit Blithe Spirit, which enjoyed a very long run of 1,997 performances back in 1942. Tom Eyen's The Dirtiest Show in Town played almost 800 times in the ‘70s and Oh! Calcutta! Ran at the theatre from 1974 to 1980, thrilling crowds for an astonishing six years. And the infamous The Players Theatre Company picked the Duchess for their Late Joys Victorian Music Hall show from ’87 to 1990. The theatre has also been home to a large number of well known performances and productions, including Behind the Iron Mask, Betrayal, Birthday Party, Breakfast with Mugabe, Buddy, Butley, Collaboration and Coyote On A Fence. Plus Damsels in Distress, Ecstasy, George Gershwin Alone, The Hound of the Baskervilles and many more.
Duchess Theatre access
There are two special wheelchair spaces in the Stalls and transfer seating is available to any aisle seat in the Dress Circle.
Duchess Theatre tickets
We’re your top destination for a wide variety of seat types and prices, with excellent availability on the full range of Duchess Theatre tickets.