I'm Sorry, Prime Minister
Apollo Theatre
£25
Venue
31 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ES
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, in central London. Designed by the architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfeld, it became the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street when it opened its doors on 21 February 1901, with the American musical comedy The Belle of Bohemia.
Photos via Google. Attributions: Crab Monster, David Meese, Caïna Verrin, Helena “Lena” Gruchociak
Current attached shows
1
Google rating
4.6 ★ (4.8k)
The Apollo Theatre opened in 1901 with a production of American Musical comedy, The Belle of Bohemia. A fitting opening show, as the building (the fourth theatre to be built on Shaftesbury Avenue) was constructed as a venue for musical performances.
Musical comedies ran in the Apollo until 1912, when a policy change allowed a greater variety of work to be performed in the theatre. This saw productions from such respected writers as Sean O’Casey, Ivor Novello, Noel Coward, and Terrance Rattigan. The Apollo had a private foyer and anteroom installed to the Royal Box during its renovation by Schaufelberg in 1932, but the theatre has remained largely unchanged since.
The theatre saw one of its most successful productions in 1962 with Boeing Boeing, which eventually transferred to the duchess in 1965. Only a few years later, Sir John Gielgud performed in Alan Bennet’s Forty Years On to great praise (he would later come back to the Apollo to make one of his last stage appearances in 1988). The Stoll Moss Group purchased the theatre in 1975 and sold it to Really Useful Group and Bridgepoint Capital in 2000.
In 2005, Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer purchased the Apollo and formed Nimax Theatres. The early 21st century has seen the Apollo host renowned plays such as All My Sons (with David Suchet), the universally acclaimed Jerusalem (which, on top of two successful seasons at the Apollo, moved to further triumph on Broadway), and the award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Just before Christmas 2013, during a performance of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time a section of the ceiling collapsed closing the theatre for several months. The collapse was blamed on the ageing Victorian architecture. Let The Right One In re-opened the theatre with a false ceiling concealing the damage and removing the top balcony from use whilst repairs were instigated.
My Night With Reg (2015)
Urinetown (2014/15)
Let The Right One In (2014)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2013)
Richard III and Twelfth Night (2012)
Long Day's Journey Into Night (2012)
The Madness of George III (2012)
Jerusalem (2011–2012)
Yes Prime Minister (2011)
Blithe Spirit (2011)
All My Sons (2010)
Jerusalem (2010)
Carrie's War (2009)
Three Days of Rain (2009)
Rain Man (2008)
Divas (2008)
The Vortex (2008)
An Audience with the Mafia (2008)
Glengarry Glen Ross (2007)
The Last Five Years (2007)
The Glass Menagerie (2007)
Summer and Smoke (2006)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2006)
Box office open · closes 6pm
These are the box office (ticket desk) hours supplied by Google. The theatre itself opens around 45 minutes before curtain-up — always check your ticket for the performance start time. You can book online any time through British Theatre.
Tube
Piccadilly Circus
Train
Charing Cross
Bus
1, 14, 19, 22, 24, 29, 38, 55, 176
Parking
Soho, Chinatown (Q Park Scheme)
A wheelchair access entrance and platform lift is available.
Are there adapted toilets?
A fully equipped adapted toilet is available at the rear of the stalls.
Are there facilities for the hard-of-hearing?
There is an infrared system working throughout the auditorium with conventional headsets. Headsets are available on a first come first served basis.
Are guide dogs and/or hearing dogs permitted?
Guide dogs and hearing dogs are permitted in the auditorium and staff can dog sit by prior arrangement. Advance booking is recommended.
Please contact the theatre directly for further information.
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A really enjoyable evening at the Apollo Theatre watching I’m Sorry, Prime Minister. The theatre is beautiful and the atmosphere on Shaftesbury Avenue makes for a wonderful West End night. The performances were excellent. Griff Rhys Jones and Clive Francis as Sir Humphrey were both superb, with Clive Francis especially outstanding — his delivery and timing were brilliant and had the audience laughing throughout. A very witty and entertaining production and a thoroughly enjoyable evening in the theatre
The theatre is fine in terms of upkeep and facilities but the Stalls seats we were in were dir3ctly behind the row in front. I am well over 6 feet tall, person in front average height and I couldn't see half of the centre stage for the whole performance. The performance "I'm Sorry, Prime Minister" was well acted,and funny in parts with enough retro references (and Oxford college setting - my workplace) but fairly static, not so inventive, and, as I say, significantly obscured by the head in front of me (the ohoto was taken before he leant back to relax).
Good theatre; competent sound system; cosy and comfortable. Minor grumbles: organisation of the interval (drinks ordering fine, signposting/ushering routes poor); the rake on the seats (back of stalls) was a little shallow (ie don't sit behind a beehive hairdo!)
What a lovely theatre with brilliant staff. I watched, A Christmas carol goes wrong here. My seat was right at the top and I got cheap seats so my view was slightly limited which I understood when buying my ticket. If you leant forward you could see most of the action. I had plenty of leg room as I was at the end of the row.
Reviews sourced from Google Maps.
The current production at Apollo Theatre is I'm Sorry, Prime Minister. Browse and book tickets directly through British Theatre.
The nearest tube station is Piccadilly Circus.
Apollo Theatre is located at 31 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ES.
You can call Apollo Theatre on 0330 333 4809. For tickets and bookings, please use British Theatre to secure the best seats.
The Apollo Theatre box office (ticket desk) operates: Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Sunday: Closed. Right now the box office is open · closes 6pm. The theatre itself opens around 45 minutes before curtain-up — and you can book online any time through British Theatre.
Apollo Theatre offers wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible seating, wheelchair-accessible toilets. Please contact the venue directly if you have specific access requirements.