Adelphi Theatre history

Built by architect Ernest Schaufelberg, the Adelphi theatre opened on 3rd December 1930. It's a Listed Grade II building and seats exactly 1560 people over three levels.

Like many London venues, there's been a theatre on the site for a very long time, way before the current building arrived. In this case, the Sans Pareil theatre opened in 1806, soon becoming the Adelphi theatre in 1819 then the Theatre Royal Adelphi in 1829.

The original venue was hugely popular in the 1820s but fell into disrepair and was eventually demolished in 1850. It was rebuilt and opened to a glorious fanfare in December 1858. After 40 years of theatrical success, the building was then modified to the point of virtually being rebuilt, christened the Century Theatre in September 1901. However, after massive public pressure, the theatre reverted back to its old name of the Royal Adelphi. The royal prefix was dropped in 1940.

The current design has been noted for its absence of curves, both externally and internally, in keeping with Art Deco style. The first show in December 1930 was the musical Evergreen. Other acclaimed shows from the time included Noel Coward's Word and Music and Cole Porter's Nymph Errant. In 1942 a revival of Ivor Novello's musical comedy The Dancing Years, enjoyed a massive run of 969 performances.

The 1950s saw the venue presenting a number of revue-style shows, often headlined by entertainment stars from the radio. In 1985 it scored a huge hit when Stephen Fry’s adaptation of Noel Gay’s Me and My Girl opened. The production ran for more than eight years and kept audiences delighted with renditions of Underneath the Arches and The Lambeth Walk.

In 1997, a revival of Bob Fosse’s Chicago went on to become the Adelphi's longest-running show, eventually making way for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita in 2006. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat arrived in 2007 and Love Never Dies in 2010. In a break from the current trend of larger-scale musicals, the theatre was also home to the West End premier of the National Theatre’s production of One Man Two Guvnors in 2011, which then moved to the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

In 2012, The Bodyguard musical made its world debut at the Adelphi. The venue is owned and run by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group.