Criterion Theatre

Address: Piccadilly Circus, London, W1

Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Architect: Thomas Verity

Opened: 1874

Capacity: 588

The Criterion was designed as a concert hall and it was changed to a theatre whilst it was being constructed. The redesigned Criterion opened underground with a restaurant and dining rooms above the theatre, and a ballroom on the top floor. The underground auditorium was lit by gas and fresh air had to be pumped into the theatre to avoid the asphyxiation of the patrons.

Charles Wyndham made this one of the most successful light comedy theatres in London before opening his own theatre Wyndhams. During World War II, the BBC requisitioned The Criterion, because the underground auditorium was safe to record and broadcast their light entertainment programmes.

Past productions at the Criterion Theatre:

Tom Foolery (June 5 1980 - May 30 1981)
Hank Williams - The Show He Never Gave (June 2 1981 - July 11 1981)
Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (July 23 1981 - June 11 1983)
Woza Albert! (June 15 1983 - December 10 1983)
Run For Your Wife (December 12 1983 - March 4 1989)
Ennio Marchetto (October 10 1992 - October 17 1992)
Making it Better (October 21 1992 - November 28 1992)
Misery (December 17 1992 - May 15 1993)
Elegies for Angels, Punks & Raging Queens (June 28 1993 - July 24 1993)
Looking Through a Glass Onion - John Lennon in Word & Music (October 18 1993 - January 1 1994)
Dishonourable Ladies (April 6 1994 - April 9 1994)
Jack (May 18 1994 - July 16 1994)
The Flying Karamazov Brothers: Juggle & Hyde (July 20 1994 - September 3 1994)
My Night with Reg (November 21 1994 - June 24 1995)
Taking Sides (June 30 1995 - December 9 1995)
Rupert Street Lonely Hearts Club (December 19 1995 - January 22 1996)
The Reduced Shakespeare Company (March 7 1996 - April 3 2005)
Amajuba (April 24 2005 - May 21 2005)
The Countess (June 7 2005 - July 9 2005)
The Gruffalo (July 19 2005 - August 21 2005)
What The Butler Saw (August 24 2005 - October 22 2005)
Otherwise Engaged (October 28 2005 - January 28 2006)
Mack & Mabel (April 10 2006 - July 1 2006)
Star Wars - Shortened (August 17 2006)
The 39 Steps (September 20 2006 - )