About the Aldwych Theatre
The Aldwych Theatre dates back to 1905. It was designed by W. G. R. Sprague in the Edwardian style to match the Waldorf Hotel and the Novello Theatre (formerly Waldorf), which all stand together in the same block. The theatre is named after the Aldwych, the crescent-shaped street that branches from The Strand. Today the theatre is Grade II listed and is known across the West End as the home of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, which has played at the theatre since March 2018. The show tells the true story of Turner’s rise to fame, and Tina Turner musical tickets still fly out of the door with audiences from all over the world attending.
Throughout its history, the Aldwych Theatre has been home to many successful musicals and plays. Notable examples include Dirty Dancing, Whistle Down the Wind and the hit Carole King musical Beautiful. The first London production of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire opened at the Aldwych in 1949, starring Vivien Leigh as Blanche DuBois, who would later win the Oscar for the same role in the film version.
Between 1960 and 1982, The Aldwych was the London home of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), before they moved their residency to the Barbican Theatre. During this time The Aldwych hosted many notable RSC productions with lauded actors such as Ben Kingsley and Patrick Stewart.
