The Novello Theatre lies just across the road from its sister theatre, the Aldwych Theatre, in the City of Westminster. From 2005, it was home to the Royal Shakespeare Company and hosted shows such as Twelfth Night, The Comedy Of Errors, A Midsummer Night's Dream and As You Like It. In 2006, it welcomed the London premiere of Broadway musical Footloose and then the RSC made its return for the 2006-2007 season. It is now it home to the smash-hit musical Mamma Mia which has thrilled over 40 million viewers.
A classic Victorian building, the Novello Theatre boasts high ceilings with, a long and thin auditorium with a high ceiling. Owned by the DeMackintosh, the Novello Theatre is an established West End theatre and will no doubt continue to host sell-out shows.
Novello Theatre Seating
Boasting a 1,000 seat capacity, the Novello Theatre is one of the larger theatres in the West End and is split into four sections: The Stalls, The Dress Circle, The Grand Circle and the Balcony.
Novello Theatre Seating Plan Map
Novello Theatre Seating
Split across four levels, the Stalls, the Dress Circle, the Grand Circle and the Balcony, the majorty of seats in the Novello Theatre are concentrated in the Stalls. Seat prices vary greatly depending on where you choose to sit in the theatre so look carefully.
The Stalls
As by far the biggest area of the theatre opposite the stage with 479 seats; some of the best seats in the house can be found here as well as some slightly cheaper ones further back.
Dress Circle
As the second largest area of the the theatre, the Dress Circle has 249 seats and hangs just above the Stalls.
The Grand Circle
This section of the theatre is considerably smaller than the Dress Circle and has only 214 seats.
The Balcony
The Balcony is the section of the theatre furthest away from the stage and has 142 seats.
Seats with best visibility
There are not many notable obstructions in the Novello Theatre but given that it is a big auditorium, there is some restricted viewing in the areas furthest away from the stage and at the sides of the theatre.
- Premium seats: The best seats in the house are undoubtedly in the middle of the Stalls, more specifically in row M. There are also some excellent seats at the front of the Dress Circle where you can enjoy panoramic views of the stage.
- Great value seats: You can also buy tickets in the slips of the Dress Circle which are much cheaper because there is restricted viewing at the sides of the theatre.
- Discounted seats: If you are looking for better value seats, then these can be found in the Grand Circle or the Balcony which are the sections of the theatre furthest from the stage.
Novello Theatre Box Office Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday: 10.00am - 7.45pm
Contact Details
- Box Office number: 0844 482 5151
- Access line: 0344 482 5137
Calls to Delfont Mackintosh Theatres 0844 numbers cost 7 pence per minute plus your phone company's access charge.
The phone lines are open 10.00am to 8.00pm, Monday to Saturday. Bank holiday opening times may vary.
Getting there
Situated in Aldwych London, the Novello Theatre is easily accessible by public transport and can also be reached by car. There are many places to eat and drink near the Novello theatre as well as the London Transport museum. The Novello Theatre address is:
5 Aldwych
WC2B 4LD
London
If you are choosing to take public transport, here are the options:
- Tube: the closest train station is Temple station which is only a 10 minute walk from the Novello theatre and serves the District and Circle lines. You can also easily walk from Covent Garden and Holborn which are only a 10 minute walk away from the theatre.
- Train: located between Charing Cross and City Thameslink Station, the Novello theatre is only a 15 minute walk away from both of these stations.
- Bus: if you are taking the bus to the Novello theatre, you can take 6, 9, 87, 243 and 341.Alternatively, you can take the bus to Aldwych Somerset House (Stop S) or The Strand which are only a few minute walk from the cinema and served by bus routes: 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 168, 171, 172, 188, 243, 341, and 521. Costs start at £22 for 3 hours and then go up to £29.50 for four hours.
- Car: the Novello theatre is part of the Theatreland Q-park scheme so you can enjoy 50% off parking. Simply take your parking ticket to the box office and theatre staff can validate it. The closet Q car park to the theatre is in Chinatown. Please also be aware that the Novello theatre is inside the London congestion zone and it costs £11.50 per weekday between 9am and 6pm.
Access
The Novello Theatre Access number is 0344 482 5137
Or you can email: access@delfontmackintosh.co.uk
Staff are happy to help access customers enter the theatre and also navigate the auditorium. Please call or email staff beforehand.
Getting there
The main entrance of the Novello theatre is located on Aldwych Street which must be accessed by steps. The accessible entrance is on Catherine Street which has a chairlift that allows patrons to get to the Dress Circle.
There is no customer lift so all sections of the theatre must be accessed by stairs.
Inside the theatre
- Stalls : There is not a customer lift so the Stalls must be accessed by 40 steps down to the auditorium. This section of the theatre is therefore not advisable for patrons or wheelchair users.
- Dress Circle
: Asthe most accessible area of the theatre, the Dress Circle can be accessed down 3-10 steps. There is one wheelchair space and one transfer space per performance. There is also extra legroom in the slip seats of the Dress Circle.
- Grand Circle
: the Grand Circle is 40 steps down from the lobby.
Balcony
The Balcony is accessible is up 50 steps and is the least accessible
Guide dogs
Guide dogs are welcome in the auditorium or they will look after them.
Novello Theatre History
As one of the most long-standing theatres in the West End, the Novello Theatre has undergone several name changes. When it first opened in 1905, the Novello Theatre was known as the Waldorf Theatre. Beginning with an eight-week season of opera and drama, the cinema started off with a bang as it starred well-known opera singers Emma Calve and Eduoard de Reszke. A few years later, in 1913, the theatre was renamed the Strand and only 2 years later, it was renamed the Whitney Theatre. However, shortly after, just before WW1, the Novello theatre reverted back to being named the Strand.
It was only until 2005, that the Novello Theatre received the name it has today and also experienced a dramatic refurbishment. The theatre is now named after actor, composer and playwright Ivor Novello, who lived just above the theatre in flat between 1913 and 1951. The name has stuck ever since and it remains to be a major theatre in the West End.
