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Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London

The Theatre Royal in Drury Lane opened in 1663, soon after the Restoration when Charles II returned to the throne. This ended Parliament's puritanical rule which had seen all theatres in England closed, and the destruction of Shakespeare's Globe. Now in a new and more fun loving age, Thomas Killigrew formed the Kings Company and built the first Theatre Royal Drury Lane, an important symbol of Britain's theatrical reinvigoration following the barren years of puritan rule.

Since that first theatre there have been three more theatres built on the site of the original, in 1674, 1794 and 1812. The 1794 theatre was built by dramatist and radical MP Richard Sheridan. This was the biggest of all the Drury Lane theatres. It was in this theatre that an assassination attempt was made on George III. James Hadfield fired two shots at King George who was sitting in the royal box. Both missed their target. The would-be assassin was arrested, and George ordered the performance to continue. The 1794 theatre burned down in February 1809, a disaster which ruined Sheridan.

Theatre Royal Drury Lane is now owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Company, and is used to stage musical theatre. A backstage tour of the theatre is available, called Through The Stage Door. This tour lasts about an hour, and actors bring to life personalities associated with the theatre's history. You will meet amongst others Richard Sheridan, and Nell Gwynne, the actress and mistress of Charles III.

 

 

Address: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, London WC

Tour Times: Tours run twice a day, Monday to Wednesday and Friday , at 2.15pm and 4.15pm , and on Thursdays and Saturdays 10.15am and 11.45pm. Sunday tours are by appointment only. Ring the theatre for bookings.

Access: This tour is not suitable for people with mobility problems.

Contact:

telephone: 0870 890 1109

group bookings: 0870 899 3342

web site: http://www.rutheatres.com/tours.htm

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