Located adjacent to Embankment and overlooking the Thames, the Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre known for hosting a variety of high-profile plays and musicals which often star celebrities. For example, the Playhouse Theatre has welcomed the likes of Lindsey Lohan, Harvey Fierstein, Mathew Perry, James Macavoy, Emeilia Clarke, Ian Richardson and many more. While the Playhouse Theatre is known for welcoming the returning production of 1984, it has also become the home of the Jamie Lloyd Company’s 2019-2020 season and hosted plays such as Cyrano de Bergerac, The Seagull and A Doll’s House. Other musicals and plays include An Inspector Calls, the Kite Runner, The Rocky Horror Show, Dreamboats and Petticoats, My Name is Rachel Corrie, Footloose, Caroline, Or Change, the Fiddler on the Roof and Good.
With an auditorium built in a traditional Franco- Venetian style, the Playhouse Theatre boasts an exquisite interior and has retained many of its original features. Although the Playhouse is not one of the largest theatres in the West End, it welcomes an extremely high calibre of theatre and many groundbreaking. Located close to many shops, restaurants and attractions on the bank of the river Thames, you could really enjoy a day out of it when visiting the theatre. The Playhouse Theatre is currently owned by the Ambassador Theatre group (ATG) which managed over 50 theatre venues across the world.
The Playhouse Theatre London Seating
With a capacity of 780 seats, the Playhouse Theatre has a medium sized auditorium which does have some seating with restricted viewing. Ticket prices vary greatly depending on where you decide to sit in the auditorium.
The Playhouse Theatre Map
MAPA NO ENCONTRADO
The Playhouse Theatre Seating
The theatre is divided across three levels: the Stalls, the Dress Circle and the Upper Circle.
The Stalls
As the largest section of the Playhouse theatre, the Stalls has a capacity of 360 seats and is undoubtedly the largest section of the theatre.
The Dress Circle
As the second tier of the Playhouse Theatre, the Dress Circle has a capacity of 206 seats.
The Upper Circle
With a capacity of 206 seats, the Upper Circle is the section of the theatre furthest away from the stage and you can find some heavily discounted seats in this section with restricted viewing.
Seats with Best Visibility
The Playhouse Theatre has some seats with restrcited views of the stage and especially in the sections furthest away from the stage. However, despite being a large West End theatre, views are often clear of the stage, apart from the curved balcony which causes some obstructed views.
- Premium Seating: The best seats in the house. These can be found in the centre of the Stalls, where you can enjoy excellent views of the stage.
- Good Value for Money Seating: there are some excellent seats with incredible views in the first three rows of the Dress Circle.
- Discounted Seating:Given that there is a curved balcony in the auditorium, there are some discounted seats towards the ends of rows in the Dress Circle or towards the back. Upper Circle seats far away from the stage can feel far away, there a generally exceptional views of the stage which are clear.
The Playhouse Theatre Contact Numbers
- Telephone Booking*: 0844 871 7631
- Group Bookings: 020 7206 1174
- Access Bookings: 0800 912 6971
*Calls cost 7p per minute, as well as your phone company's access charge.
Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 - 19:30
Open until the time of show at 19.30 but stop advance bookings after 18.30.
Getting there
Located in the centre of London, the Playhouse Theatre is extremely well connected and easily accessible by public transport. Although travelling by car is not as recommended as the theatre is in London’s Congestion Charge Zone, it is also possible to reach the Playhouse theatre by car. London’s Congestion Charge Zone costs £11.50 between 7am and 6pm. The Playhouse Theatre London address is:
Northumberland Ave, London, WC2N 5DE
- Train: Charing Cross Station is only a 5 minute walk away from the Playhouse Theatre and it has many national rail services.
- Tube: Embankment (Bakerloo, District, Circle, Northern) is adjacent to the Playhouse Theatre. Charing Cross tube station (Northern, Bakerloo) is also only a 5 minute walk away.
- Bus: there are many bus routes which stop close to the Playhouse Theatre, including bus lines 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 23, 24, 87, 88, 91, 139 and 453 which stop at Trafalgar Square and are less than a 10 minute walk away.
- Car: the Playhouse Theatre is part of Q-Park’s Theatreland discounted parking scheme which means that you can enjoy 50% off your parking ticket. The closest car parks to the Playhouse Theatre are Trafalgar Square and Chinatown which are between a 10 and 15 minute walk away from the theatre. This will cost £22 for up to 3 hours and £29.50 for 4 hours before the discount is applied.
Accessibility
If you have any access enquiries or need to book special assistance or wheelchair spaces, please call the Playhouse theatre beforehand on the Playhouse theatre access line 0800 912 6971 or email: customercare@theambassadors.com. It is important that you let the theatre known beforehand if you have any requirements.
Getting into the Theatre
Situated on Northumberland Avenue, the Playhouse Theatre is 3 steps up from street level and through some double doors. There is also a temporary ramp available for wheelchair users.
Inside the Theatre
The most accessible area of the theatre is the Stalls, which are step-free from the foyer to seating. There are two wheelchair spaces Row G and J and rooms for companions on either side. There are also 6 transfers available into the aisle seats. Wheelchair users are advised to bring a companion to help them.
Given that there is no customer lift, the other sections of the theatre are not recommended for customers with limited mobility. The Dress Circle is 28 steps up from the theatre foyer and the Upper Circle is via 82 steps up from the theatre foyer.
If you require any customer assistance, staff are there to help customers navigate the theatre and also provide an at-seat service.
The Playhouse Theatre History
Opening its doors in 1882, the Playhouse Theatre was originally named the Royal Avenue Theatre and was built by F.H Fowler and Hill. Undergoing extensive refurbishment in 1905, it reopened as the Playhouse Theatre in 107 which has been ever since. Through the early 1990s a range of plays and in 1951, it was taken over by the BBC as a recording studio for live performances.
From 1987, it was restored as a theatre and opened with the show Girlfriends and has been a commercial building ever since. From 2013, it has been owned by the Ambassador Theatre Group and continues to host a range of live entertainment.
