Playhouse Theatre
Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5DE
Playhouse Theatre Location
Travel Information
Nearest Tube station
- Embankment
- Charing Cross
Nearest Rail Station
- Charing Cross
Tube lines
- Bakerloo
- Circle
- District
- Northern
Day buses
- (Whitehall) 3, 12, 24, 53, 88, 91, 159, 453; (Strand) 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 29, 87, 139, 176
Night buses
- (Whitehall) 12, 53, 88, 159, 453, N2, N3, N5, N18, N20, N44, N52, N91, N97, N109, N136, N381; (Strand) 6, 23, 139, 176, N9, N11, N13, N15, N21, N26, N29, N47, N87, N89, N155, N343, N550, N551
Playhouse Theatre Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to the Playhouse Theatre?
The Playhouse is on Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5DE, tucked beneath the railway arches at the river end of the street. Embankment is barely a minute away and Charing Cross three to five, which makes it one of the easiest theatres in London to reach; several bus routes stop within a ten-minute walk. Do check which entrance your ticket names, as the building has more than one.
Is the Playhouse Theatre an accessible space?
Partly, and the limits are worth knowing. Step-free access reaches the Stalls auditorium only; the accessible toilet is in the main foyer, on that same level. There is one non-transferring wheelchair space with a companion seat and one transferring space, with occasional extra capacity, so ask when you book rather than on the night. Hearing support is the app-based Mobile Connect system, recommended for the Stalls. Assistance dogs are welcome and staff will look after a dog during the performance if you prefer. Everything above the Stalls is reached by stairs — 32 steps to the front of the Dress Circle, 59 to its bar and 85 to the Upper Circle.
What time should I arrive at the Playhouse Theatre?
You can come early here: the auditorium opens 75 minutes before the performance, far earlier than most West End houses. Thirty minutes is the minimum for the bag check and finding your seat, but the extra time is worth taking if your seat is upstairs, since the Dress Circle is 32 steps up and the Upper Circle 85.
Is there a dress code at the Playhouse Theatre?
None is set. Wear what you will be comfortable in; the theatre asks only that hats are not worn in the auditorium, where they block the view behind. A light layer is sensible — the building sits partly below the railway arches and the lower levels can feel cooler than the street. Anyone who enjoys dressing for a night out will be in good company.
Can I take photographs inside the Playhouse Theatre?
Not during the performance — no photographs, no filming. Before it, afterwards and at the curtain call you are welcome to. The Victorian auditorium is worth the picture, and the foyers repay a look too; when a production reconfigures the room, as happens here from time to time, what you are photographing is particular to that run.
Which seats should I choose at the Playhouse Theatre?
Weigh the stairs as well as the sightlines. The Stalls are reached without steps from the foyer, which makes them the easiest level by a wide margin. Above that the climb is real: 32 steps to the front of the Dress Circle, 59 to the Dress Circle bar and 85 to the Upper Circle. The Stalls also put you closest to a stage that some productions extend into the room, so they are the safer choice if you want to be near the action.
Playhouse Theatre history
From the outside
The Grade 2 listed Playhouse Theatre features a striking exterior that curves gently around Northumberland Avenue into Craven Street. Inside there are a series of beautiful paintings and a glorious flowery safety curtain, plus scary-looking lights shaped like horse’s skulls.
Playhouse Theatre architecture and history
First called the Royal Avenue Theatre, and soon after wards being renamed the Avenue Theatre, the current gorgeous building was designed by Blow and Billerey and opened back in 1882. Specifically designed to house comic operas and burlesques at first, it soon followed the fashion of the day and turned its face towards serious theatre, with the famous George Bernard Shaw creating his first play especially for the venue. W. Somerset Maugham premiered his work there and classics by Tennessee Williams, Ibsen and Chekhov all took the stage to considerable acclaim.
Twenty five years after its opening the building was being renovated when part of Charing Cross railway station collapsed on top of it. Six of the workers were killed, which delayed the re-opening until 1907, at which point it was renamed the Playhouse Theatre.
In the 1950s the BBC bought the theatre for radio and live TV recordings, which included the hit comedy series Steptoe and Son. During the 1960s it was used for live gigs and hosted performances by household names like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
The BBC left in 1976 and the building was deserted, threatened with demolition. But the decision to add an extra storey saved its life, being rented out to businesses to provide essential extra revenue. Thanks to this innovation the Playhouse Theatre opened again in 1987and has hosted a wide variety of shows, from musicals to Shakespeare plays, ever since.
Amazingly, the complex machinery under the stage is original.
Jeffrey Archer owned the theatre from 1988 to 1992. In 2003 Maidstone Productions became the new independent owners, with the famous Broadway producers Ted and Norman Tulchin putting on a dazzling string of hit productions. These days it is owned by the Ambassador Theatre group.
Past shows at the Playhouse Theatre
Over the years the delightful Playhouse theatre has been home to Gladys Cooper, The Almeida Theatre Company, The Peter Hall Company and more. Hit shows have included Gagarin Way, The Unexpected Man, Dinner with Friends (which won the coveted Pulitzer Prize), and Turgenev's Fortune's Fool on Broadway with Alan Bates and Frank Langella, both of whom won Tony awards for their performances. Recent productions include Richard Eyre's Vincent in Brixton.
Playhouse Theatre access
You’ll find wheelchair spaces in the stalls, rows G and J, with space for a companion. Plus six transfer spaces. You can store your scooter or wheelchair in the rear of the stalls.
Playhouse Theatre tickets
We’re a trusted destination for a wide variety of seat types and prices, with excellent availability on the full range of Playhouse Theatre tickets.