Dominion Theatre

A guide to the Dominion Theatre in London's West End

The Dominion Theatre is a comparative latecomer to London's theatreland, opening its doors in 1929 before a faltering start led to its conversion in 1930 to allow it to show films. Since then, however, it has gone from strength to strength with hit musicals like We Will Rock You, based on the songs of Queen, Grease, Lord of the Dance, Evita and Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

If you're looking to combine your visit with a great lastminute.com theatre meal deal, you can. It's located at the heart of London's theatreland, close to many popular restaurants and pubs or bars where you can also enjoy pre- or post-theatre drinks with ease.

Located on Shaftesbury Avenue, the Dominion Theatre is one minute walk from Tottenham Court Road, six minutes from Goodge Street and seven minutes from Covent Garden. It has a capacity of 2,069, accommodated across two tiers of galleries following the closure of the upper circle. The Portland Stone facade is built around a steel frame and the interior retains 1920s light fittings and Art Deco plasterwork.

The history

One of the first major shows at the Dominion Theatre was The Judy Garland Show in 1957 which ran for a month and which marked the start of a run of musical theatre productions. Another visitor to the theatre from overseas was the French singer and actor Maurice Chevalier who starred in a season which opened in 1930.

After its conversion to a cinema in the 1930s, the lights went out on the venue as a home for theatre and although there were some live performances in the 1950s and 1960s, these were concerts rather than plays. Indeed, in the 1980s it became a popular venue for live concerts. Tangerine Dream's Logos album was recorded here in 1982 and includes a track called 'Dominion'. Dolly Parton appeared at the theatre in 1983 and the concert was broadcast on TV. In the mid-1980s the theatre staged the time-travel musical Time, beginning a series of smash-hit musicals which has included Notre Dame de Paris and White Christmas.

Other notable performances have included Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, Tango Passion and stand-up comedy from American comic Jackie Mason.

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