London Coliseum

London Coliseum history

From the outside

The London Coliseum Theatre is a landmark on St Martin’s Lane with its enormous tower and grand exterior. The home of the English National Opera company, it has unusually shallow balconies so you enjoy amazing unimpeded stage views. The theatre’s impressive life-size sculptures of charioteers make the interior a splendid feast for the eyes.

London Coliseum Theatre architecture and history

The London Coliseum was designed by Frank Matcham for Sir Oswald Stoll. Built in 1904 specifically as a venue for variety shows, a ‘people’s theatre’, it had a very broad appeal at the time. A record breaking size, it had more than 2,300 seats and amazingly luxurious facilities. It features London’s widest proscenium arch, a massive 55 feet wide and 34 feet high. The stage is enormous too, at 80 feet wide. One of the earliest West End theatres to feature clean, relatively safe electric lighting, its impressive revolving stage was only rarely used despite costing a massive £70,000.

It was famous for its revolutionary modern features, which included electric lifts, a beautiful roof garden and a unique Information Bureau, where doctors and important people could take calls. Sadly the huge initial investment didn’t pay off and the venue shut its doors only two years later.

In 1907 it reopened to enjoy a successful run of variety shows until the 1930s, at which point film revolutionised entertainment and it changed its name to the Coliseum Theatre. The venue hosted a number of popular musicals, ballets and pantomimes, including a bunch of stateside hits from the USA: Annie Get Your Gun, Kiss Me Kate and Guys and Dolls hit the big time in the ‘40s and 1950s.

By the 1960s variety had become less popular and the theatre converted into a super-cinema, an enormous big screen venue that saw success for most of the ‘60s. Then, in 1968, the Sadler’s Wells Opera Company, now the English National Opera, relocated there and the venue was once again refurbished, adding a new orchestra pit in 1992.

In the early 2000s it was completely refitted again, in readiness for the Royal Variety Performance, held at the Coliseum in 2004 and again in ’06. Supported by National Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, The National Lottery Vernon & Hazel Ellis and many more generous patrons, the end result is quite simply magnificent.

Past shows at the London Coliseum Theatre

Past shows at the London Coliseum include the fast moving tale of torture and murder Tosca, and Strictly Gershwin, a dazzling celebration of George Gershwin’s Hollywood smashes. Simon Boccanegra, a torrid tale of feuding and grief and widely lauded as one of Verdi's finest masterpieces, played there as did Shen Yun, a New York based Performing Arts group who performed ancient Chinese culture-inspired dance.

London Coliseum Theatre access

There are two wheelchair spaces in the Stalls, two in the Dress Circle and four in the Stalls Boxes. There are four transfer seats in the Dress Circle and six in the Balcony. There are two lifts which give access to most of the auditorium and all the venue’s bars and restaurants. Plus an enhanced sound system for the hard of hearing and regular sign language-interpreted performances.

London Coliseum Theatre tickets

We’re a favourite destination for a wide variety of seat types and prices, with excellent availability on the full range of Coliseum Theatre tickets.