London To Get Its First New Theatre In 30 Years

[Phantom of London]

The site of a former pickle factory is set to become the location of a new theatre in London's West End.

The venue will be the first in the area for 30 years, after Westminster City Council approved the plans.

The development above Tottenham Court Road station on Oxford Street will also include offices and shops. The venue is expected to open in 2020.

The site was formerly used by Crosse & Blackwell to make Branston pickle until they moved out in 1927.

The theatre will be operated by Nimax which already runs five others in London, including the Apollo and Lyric.

Nimax chief executive Nica Burns said: "Our new theatre won't compete with those already in London. It will be a different - very intimate - space, in a great location, where cutting edge shows can be performed."


Building on the new theatre is planned to start in 2017 when work on Crossrail is complete

London Astoria
Ms Burns said the auditorium would be able to accommodate between 350 and 500 seats, with none having restricted views.

The London Astoria most recently occupied the site before it closed in 2009 when it was compulsorily purchased as part of the Crossrail project. The music venue was then demolished.

The redeveloped Tottenham Court Road station, between Charing Cross Road and Oxford Street, will serve Crossrail and London Underground passengers.

Once the station has been completed in 2017, developers Derwent London will start building the above-ground development which includes the theatre.

Councillor Robert Davis, Westminster City Council's deputy leader, said: "This flagship scheme marks a significant investment in the city and will play an important role in the regeneration of east Oxford Street."

[Jonwo]

I believe the new theatre is a replacement for the Astoria which was demolished for Crossrail, Nimax is building their theatre empire having just bought the Palace. The theatre sounds like it could be used for smaller work and transfers from places like the Donmar or the Cottesloe.

Kind of ironic that Nimax is the one coming up with a new theatre given that Cameron Mackintosh promised to build a new theatre on top of the Queens back in 2003.

[Phantom of London]

Does London really need another theatre, the same size as the Donmar Warehouse, you also have the Barbican pit, Arts, Royal court, Trafalgar (studio 2), Menier and Young Vic and many fringe theatres that all tick the box for very small intimate houses (<350), this is where this new theatre will neatly slot in..

Whilst The West End has a few houses that fit into the small category (<750), they are mainly taken up with shows that are running for a long time and seem to be going nowhere, these are, The Mousetrap, The Woman in Black, Stomp and 39 steps, that have a permanent residence for the St Martin's (550), Ambassador (450),Fortune (440) and Criterion (591), that only leaves The Wyndham's (750), The Duke Of York (650), Trafalgar (studio 1) and Duchess (482), so I would say we need a theatre of this size, as we don't have many that size and there is always plays to go in there, which is highlighted by the absents of quality dramas that do not make it from Broadway.