Dominion theatre

The Dominion Theatre is one of the most recognisable theatres in the West End and opened to the public back in 1929.

A timeline of the theatre

The venue is noted for its Portland stone facade and became a cinema shortly after its construction in 1930. In the following year, however, Charlie Chaplin arrived at the venue to star in City Lights, which featured special sound effects and some music, although it didn't actually contain any dialogue.

Although the theatre suffered some challenging years later in the 20th century, it experienced a resurgence by the 1980s, when it became a thriving music venue, welcoming many highly successful acts such as U2, Bon Jovi, Dolly Parton, and Sinead O'Connor.

Another famous act that appeared at the site was Duran Duran who, in 1983, were watched by none other than Prince Charles and Princess Diana, both of whom attended the event to support Mencap, a charity helping people with learning disabilities.

By the 1990s, the Dominion Theatre entered a new era. Big, exhilarating musicals like Grease, Beauty and the Beast, and A Christmas Carol were performed there as well as hypnotic shows by Paul McKenna. The theatre was also the venue for the famous Royal Variety Performance from 1993 to 1996 and 2000 and 2001, three of which were attended by the Queen. Today, the Dominion Theatre is operated independently by Nederlander Dominion Limited and underwent a comprehensive restoration in the early 2010s.

Restaurants and hotels near the Dominion Theatre

Popular hotels near Dominion Theatre and other major West End venues include the luxurious Covent Garden Hotel, acclaimed for its exquisite interior, and the equally opulent hotel The London EDITION with its magical decor. There are also a number of more affordable options available nearby, including the stylish St Giles London - St Giles Classic Hotel and The Z Hotel Soho, a cosy boutique venue. Nearby you can find great French-themed food at Café Rouge, delicious British-themed food at The Tottenham, and scrumptious Chinese cuisine at China Express, close to numerous hotels near Dominion Theatre.