Shaftesbury Theatre

History of the Shaftesbury Theatre

Originally called the New Prince's Theatre, it changed it's name to the Prince's Theatre in 1914. The theatre was sold to E.M.I. in 1962 and, after a refit and redecoration, was opened in 1963 as the Shaftesbury Theatre.

On 20 July 1973 parts of the ceiling fell in, closing the then current production of the musical Hair, and bringing the threat of 'redevelopment' (ie more office space) which was averted after a public campaign and the listing of the building by the Government in March 1974 and the theatre reopened in 1974. More recently the theatre was refurbished in 1986.