Covent Garden

WC2E 7RQ

The Lyceum Theatre first opened in 1834, and in it’s time has served as a circus, a dance hall, a concert venue for the likes of The Clash, U2, Led Zeppelin and The Who, and it has even been a chapel! It also housed the first ever showing of Madame Tussaud’s waxworks in London, now a major tourist attraction in its own right.

The grand front façade, part of the building dating back to 1834

The theatre has had many managers over the years, who have all put their own stamp on the place. For example, Madame Vestris and Charles Matthews used the theatre for fairy extravaganzas during their time in the 1850s. People marveled at the stage effects as winged figures zoomed their way around the air above the boards! Sir Henry Irving also took over management for a time. He was famous for his great acting skills and memorable performances in many Shakespeare plays that he put on at the Lyceum. Even Bram Stoker, author of the famous Dracula was the business manager of the theatre for 20 years in the late 1800s. It is even said that Irving, with his specialty for playing villains, was the inspiration for the cold hearted yet gentlemanly mannered vampire, Count Dracula.

In more recent years, the Lyceum Theatre has been home to more innocent entertainments – namely The Disney Corporation’s lavish and beautiful adaptation of The Lion King.

Waiting for a performance to start!

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