The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is located in Covent Garden, Westminster. Since 1663, there have been four theatres at the same location, with the Theatre Royal Drury Lane being the last one. Therefore, this West End veteran, situated between Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and Drury Lane, is the oldest London theatre still in use. The seating capacity of the theatre is 2,196, with 4 levels — Stalls, Royal Circle, Grand Circle, and Balcony. The current building was designed by Benjamin Wyatt. It is the only theatre in London to have two royal boxes in the auditorium.
Many notable performances have been staged in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, especially musical theatre shows. Over the years, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison starring My Fair Lady, Pulitzer Prize-winning A Chorus Line, and the dance-heavy musical 42nd Street have been some of its most popular presentations. The Theatre Royal Drury Lane underwent two years of refurbishment recently. It reopened in 2021 with the West End premiere of Frozen. Andrew Lloyd Webber is the present owner of the theatre.
Venue Details
Address: Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JF
Opened: 1812
Seating Capacity: 1993
Seating Chart: Check out the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Seating Plan here.
Now Playing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Practical Information
Accessible Seating
West End theatres take inclusive access very seriously. The Theatre Royal Drury Lane has a special level access entrance on Russell Street for patrons who use wheelchairs. This entrance leads to wheelchair spaces in the Stalls. Two adapted toilets are also available through this entrance. Non-transferable wheelchair spaces may be booked on all levels except the Balcony. The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is also equipped with a lift at all levels. The staff is trained to provide assistance as well.
Available Facilities
Assistive Listening System: Audio enhancement services can be arranged for patrons who need them. They may be provided through the guests’ own phones and earphones or other devices. Depending on the production, Theatre Royal Drury Lane hosts periodic accessible performances, including Audio-described, Captioned, BSL Interpreted, and Relaxed performances.
Bar: Theatre Royal Drury Lane is home to multiple bars and cafes that serve beverages and light food options.
Cloakroom: No cloakroom services are available.
Guide Dogs: Guide dogs are welcome at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. You can also request the theatre staff to look after your dog while you watch the show.
Toilets: Wheelchair-accessible toilets are available at all levels of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, except the balcony. There are two on the Stalls level and one each on the Royal Circle and Grand Circle levels.
Handy Tips
- The balcony level does not have non-transferable wheelchair spaces or adapted toilets. It is best to avoid this section for patrons who use wheelchairs.
- Theatre Royal Drury Lane has trained access hosts to help visually impaired customers upon arrival and throughout their visit, if required.
- Speak to a manager before security checks if you need to bring medication, food, drink, or medical equipment to manage a medical condition.
- In some performances, smoke, haze, and strobe lights are used. They may cause discomfort to some people. You can check with the theatre to see if your show uses them.
- Children who are five years of age or under are not admitted to the Main Stage Productions. Theatre Royal Drury Lane recommends taking children to their Theatre for the Young Audiences productions.
- The adapted unisex toilets are adjacent to the Russell Street accessible entrance on the Stalls level. This toilet is usually locked, so ask the staff for they keys if you need to use it.
Getting There
Tube: Covent Garden, Charing Cross, and Temple tube stationsis are the closest to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Bus: Bus route RV1 stops on Russell Street and Catherine Street. You can also find routes 6, 9, 87, 243, and 341 on Aldwych and routes 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 168, 171, 172, 188, 243, 341, and 521 by way of the Strand.
Rail: Charing Cross Station and City Thameslink Station are the two closest railway stations.
Restaurants near Theatre Royal Drury Lane
1. FishWorks (Covent Garden) : A live cooking counter for seafood and a chic oyster bar — Fishworks is every seafood lover’s dream come true. As popular with corporate clients as well as theatre-goers, this is a spot that should not be missed.
2. Bodean's BBQ (Covent Garden): For a classic barbeque experience, Bodean’s BBQ is a go-to. Their American dishes are also very popular for a quick before-show snack.
3. Gelatorino: Want to hit a quaint cafe for coffee and desserts after a show? Gelatorino has you covered. Try out their sweet delights, especially the ice cream and sorbet for a culinary experience that will transport you to Italy with every bite.
4. Tuttons: Serving traditional British food, this restaurant has been around for a long time and is a favourite amongst tourists and locals alike. Their cocktails and bar snacks will make for the perfect after-show revelry for theatregoers.
FAQs
Theatre Royal Drury Lane is located at Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JF.
Seating Capacity of Theatre Royal Drury Lane is 1993. It has 737 Stalls seats, 477 Royal Circle seats, 408 Grand Circle seats and 371 Balcony seats.
Yes. Since Theatre Royal Drury Lane welcomes guests with special needs and strives to make the show accessible for everyone, accessible seating is available at the venue.
Assistive Listening System, bar, accessible toilets and sitters for guide dogs are some of the facilities available at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Covent Garden is the closest tube station to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, served by the Piccadilly line. Charing Cross and Temple tube stations are also about 12-15 minutes away.
More West End Guides
For more West End information, here are some helpful quick links!
