The Theatre Royal

The Theatre Royal is a historic playhouse in the Covent Garden district of London that serves today as an active performance venue for large musicals. The architecture displays itself across several levels with rich decorative elements such as plasterwork, columns, and gilded details that shape the interior space.

The first building on this site arose shortly after the English Restoration in the seventeenth century, when the playhouse became a center of performance art. The current structure was erected after a fire in the early nineteenth century and stands as the fourth house on this plot.

The building has long carried the nickname "Drury Lane" after the street where it stands, and visitors today enter a space that continues to function as a performance venue for large productions. On evenings the foyers fill with theatregoers who move through the historic halls and experience the atmosphere of an active playhouse.

The auditorium rises through four tiers with roughly 2200 seats in total, so visitors gain different viewing angles depending on which level they choose. Bars and lounges sit on several floors and open before the show and during intervals for refreshments.

Toward the end of the eighteenth century a shooting attempt on the reigning monarch was carried out from the audience, which entered British history as the first documented attack of this kind. The incident led to changes in security arrangements during royal theatre visits.

Location: City of Westminster

Location: London

Inception: 1663

Founders: Thomas Killigrew

Architects: Christopher Wren

Official opening: 1663

Architectural style: Georgian architecture

Capacity: 2196

Address: Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JF

Website: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/theatre-royal-drury-lane

GPS coordinates: 51.51306,-0.12028

Latest update: December 13, 2025 15:28