THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET
18 Suffolk Street, Haymarket,
London, SW1Y 4HT
The original Theatre Royal Haymarket dates back to 1720. The original building was a little further north on the same street, but it has been on its current site since 1821 when it was redesigned by John Nash and built at a cost of £20,000.
In 1873 it as the first theatre to stage a matinée performance which was a custom soon followed by theatres everywhere. Six years later the auditorium was reconstructed and the stage was enclosed in the first use of the picture frame proscenium.
The Theatre Royal Haymarket closed in 1904 for five months whilst major alterations took place involving a complete reconstruction of the interior front of house of the stage right down to its foundations using steel, brick, and concrete. In 1939 it was the turn of front of house with a large Lounge Bar added under the Stalls and the Stalls Foyer was extended, but because of the war this was not finally completed until 1941.
The theatre underwent a major refurbishment in 1994 at a cost of £1.3m when large amounts of gold leaf were replaced, the stage and roof trusses were reinforced, the auditorium ceiling restored, new carpet, upholstery and hand blocked wallpapers were replaced in the auditorium, the marble was polished and air conditioning installed.
The seating capacity is now 903 on three levels.
HOW TO GET TO THE HAYMARKET THEATRE
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Tube : Charing Cross/Piccadilly Circus Train: Charing Cross |
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14, 19, 22, 24, 29, 38, 40, 176 |
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MasterPark Whitcomb Street, NCP Denman Street & Leicester Place |
DISABLED ACCESS TO THE HAYMARKET
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Infra-red system with headsets. |
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Guide dogs are permitted inside the auditorium or they can be looked after in the manager's office. |
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No steps to the auditorium through exit doors to the left and right hand side of main entrance. 1 space for a wheelchair user at X18. Transfer seating available to any aisle seat for 1 scooter and 4 wheelchairs. |
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There is no adapted toilet. There is one private toilet at the stage door on Suffolk Place but access to this is up 3 steps. |