Once a humble tavern where Nell Gwynne, Charles II's notorious mistress, enjoyed a tipple or two, this site has transformed more times than a chameleon at a paint factory. It all began in 1847 when the Mogul Saloon opened its doors, before morphing into the Turkish Saloon, the Mogul Music Hall, and finally the Middlesex Music Hall in 1851. By the 20th century, it was completely rebuilt, opening in 1911 as the New Middlesex Theatre of Varieties under Oswald Stoll.
In 1919, the theatre received another facelift and a new moniker: the Winter Garden Theatre. This period saw it play host to a series of Jerome Kern musicals and stars like Fred and Adele Astaire. The theatre also staged gripping dramas such as George Bernard Shaw’s "On the Rocks" and Agatha Christie’s "Witness for the Prosecution." However, the curtain fell in 1959, and the theatre stood vacant until it was demolished in 1965.
Rising from its own ashes, the current theatre was designed by Paul Tvrtkovic and Sean Kenny and opened in 1973. The venue’s revolutionary design featured a third of the auditorium on a revolve, making it perfect for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Cats," which ran from 1981 to 2002 and became the longest-running musical in West End history. Webber eventually bought the theatre in 1991 and, in a fitting tribute, renamed it the Gillian Lynne Theatre in 2018 after the legendary choreographer who brought "Cats" to life.
In recent years, the theatre has hosted smash hits like "War Horse" and "School of Rock." Today, it continues to dazzle audiences with its innovative productions and versatile design.
Details
- Address:
- 166 Drury Lane
- WC2B 5QA
- Transport:
- Railway station: King's Cross St Pancras Bus numbers: (High Holborn) 134, 242; (Kingsway) 1, 59, 68, 91, 168, 171, 188, 243, 521, X68