Criterion Theatre

The Criterion Theatre

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View from the Stage

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View from the Dress Circle

The Criterion Theatre is a theatre situated on Piccadilly Circus in the West End of London and is a Grade II* listed building. It has a capacity of 594.

In 1870, the caterers Spiers and Pond decided to develop the site of a seventeenth century posting inn, the White Bear, an area of sloping ground stretching between Jermyn Street and Piccadilly Circus, known as Regent Circus. A competition was held and, out of 15 entries, Thomas Verity was commissioned to design a new development consisting of a large restaurant, dining rooms, ballroom, and galleried concert hall in the basement. Having commenced building work it was decided to alter the proposed concert hall, (though retaining the composers names which still line the tiled staircases to this day), to a theatre with the large Criterion Restaurant and dining rooms above it and a ball room on the top floor. Being underground and lit by gas, fresh air had to pumped into the auditorium to prevent the audience from being asphyxiated, making the theatre one of the earliest air-conditioned environments in London.

The first production opened on 21st March 1874 and consisted of 'An American Lady' written and performed by the manager Henry J Byron and a piece by WS Gilbert entitled 'Topsyturveydom'.

Under the management of Charles Wyndham, The Criterion became one of the leading light comedy houses in London. Between the world wars notable productions included 'Musical Chairs' with John Gielgud and in 1936, a three year run of 'French Without Tears' which launched the career of Terence Rattigan.

During World War II, The Criterion was requisitioned by the BBC - as an underground theatre it made an ideal studio safe from the London blitz - and light entertainment programmes were both recorded and broadcast live. After the war The Criterion repertoire included avant-garde works such as Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot and pieces by Anouilh, Dario Fo and others.

In the 1970's the whole of the Criterion site was proposed for redevelopment, which caused much protest as people feared the theatre would be lost. Eventually, after Equity's Save London's Theatre Committee organised high profile demonstations the theatre's future was secured but it had to close temporarily from April 1989, until it reopened in October 1992. Having undergone major refurbishment both back, and front of house, The Criterion retains an almost perfectly preserved Victorian auditorium, with all the intimacy and atmosphere that make the building a pleasure to both visit and work in.

From 1996 to 2005 it was home to productions of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, The Complete Works of Shakespeare, The Complete History of America, and The Bible, The Complete Word of God.

The Criterion is currently "dark" but will shortly be hosting The 39 Steps as of the 20th September 2006 which is transferring from the Tricycle Theatre.

Principal Productions

• The 39 Steps (From September 20th 2006)
• Star Wars - Shortened (August 17th 2006)
• Mack & Mabel (April 10 2006 - July 1 2006)
• Otherwise Engaged (October 28 2005 - January 28 2006)
• What The Butler Saw (August 24 2005 - October 22 2005)
• The Gruffalo (July 19 2005 - August 21 2005)
• The Countess (June 7 2005 - July 9 2005)
• Amajuba (April 24 2005 - May 21 2005)
• Reduced Shakespeare Company (March 7 1996 - April 3 2005)
• Rupert Street Lonely Hearts Club (December 19 1995 - January 22 1996)
• Taking Sides (June 30 1995 - December 9 1995)
• My Night with Reg (November 21 1994 - June 24 1995)
• The Flying Karamazov Brothers: Juggle & Hyde (July 20 1994 - September 3 1994)
• Jack (May 18 1994 - July 16 1994)
• Dishonourable Ladies (April 6 1994 - April 9 1994)
• Maxwell: The Musical Revue (Never opened!)
• Looking Through a Glass Onion - John Lennon in Word & Music (October 18 1993 - January 1 1994)
• Elegies for Angels, Punks & Raging Queens (June 28 1993 - July 24 1993)
• Misery (December 17 1992 - May 15 1993)
• Making it Better (October 21 1992 - November 28 1992)
• Ennio Marchetto (October 10 1992 - October 17 1992)
• Run For Your Wife (December 12 1983 - March 4 1989)
• Woza Albert! (June 15 1983 - December 10 1983)
• Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (July 23 1981 - June 11 1983)
• Hank Williams - The Show He Never Gave (June 2 1981 - July 11 1981)
• Tom Foolery (June 5 1980 - May 30 1981)