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Venue

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT, United Kingdom, SE1 9DT

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

4.7 · 920 Google reviewsBox office closed · opens sunday 12am

Tucked within the Shakespeare's Globe complex on Bankside, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is a breathtaking indoor Jacobean theatre lit almost entirely by candlelight. With its intimate galleried auditorium and richly decorated interior, it offers audiences an extraordinarily atmospheric experience unlike anywhere else in London. Named after the American actor and director whose tireless vision brought the Globe back to life, the playhouse stages early modern drama, opera, and new writing in a setting of genuine historical authenticity.

Photos via Google. Attributions: Ellie Cripps, Laura Marzec, Ana Sandra, David Terris

Current attached shows

1

Google rating

4.7 ★ (920)

Venue info

Tucked within the Shakespeare's Globe complex on Bankside, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is a breathtaking indoor Jacobean theatre lit almost entirely by candlelight. With its intimate galleried auditorium and richly decorated interior, it offers audiences an extraordinarily atmospheric experience unlike anywhere else in London. Named after the American actor and director whose tireless vision brought the Globe back to life, the playhouse stages early modern drama, opera, and new writing in a setting of genuine historical authenticity.

History

The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse opened in January 2014 as the indoor companion to the open-air Shakespeare's Globe, which had itself welcomed its first audiences in 1997. The playhouse takes its name from Sam Wanamaker, the American actor and director who dedicated decades of his life to the campaign for reconstructing a working Globe Theatre on Bankside. Wanamaker died in 1993, just a few years before his dream was fully realised, and the indoor theatre stands as a permanent tribute to his extraordinary perseverance.

The design of the playhouse draws on historical research into the indoor venues of the Jacobean era, most notably the Blackfriars Playhouse used by Shakespeare's company, the King's Men. Its rectangular galleried auditorium, decorated timberwork, and use of candelabras all reflect scholarly understanding of how such spaces would have looked and functioned in the early seventeenth century. The result is a building that feels genuinely rooted in theatrical history while serving a fully working modern producing house.

Box office hours

Box office closed · opens sunday 12am

  • Monday: Open 24 hours
  • Tuesday: Open 24 hours
  • Wednesday: Open 24 hours
  • Thursday: Open 24 hours
  • Friday: Open 24 hours
  • Saturday: Open 24 hours
  • Sunday: Open 24 hours

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.

Transport

Tube

Southwark (Jubilee line), London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern lines), Mansion House (District and Circle lines)

Train

London Bridge station is the closest mainline rail terminus, approximately ten minutes on foot along the South Bank

Accessibility

Available at this venue:

  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet

Accessibility information supplied by Google Maps. Please contact the venue directly to confirm details for your visit.

Shows currently at this venue

Full what's-on listing for Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

Previous productions

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Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

What visitors say

5.0· a month ago
Unique venue and the directing and acting in The Tempest made the most of it with interaction and modern references alongside musical harmonies that enhanced original and did not detract.
— Mark Turner
5.0· 4 months ago
Stunning, beautiful, small indoor globe theatre the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. We watched the Welsh inspired Romero and Juliet..stunning production and first time Romeo and Juliet was played in that theatre and the Welsh language being spoken too.. I was on stage seating which was very immersive very close up to the actors, you felt yaself was a part of the play!!! The theatre itself is stunning and kept the history feel to it..
— Gregory Clarke
3.0· 2 months ago
We had seats A7, A8 in Upper Gallery. A8 is an aisle seat. Sightline was great but the seats were terrible. Very narrow backless bench seats. Extremely limited legroom. At times, the person behind me hit my back with his foot. Gross. My back was in pain by the time the show ended.
— Sam M
4.0· 2 months ago
Loved the modern and silly take on Midsummer’s Night Dream I saw here, but was disappointed to learn they use candlelight AND stage lights since I thought the theater would be only candlelit and this took some of the magic from the experience. Overall enjoyed my time and would do again!
— LXP

Reviews sourced from Google Maps.

Live venue listings

REVIEW: Farinelli And The King, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse ✭✭✭✭

5 March 2015

View listing

REVIEW: The Changeling, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse ✭✭✭✭

28 January 2015

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REVIEW: Ellen Terry with Eileen Atkins, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse ✭✭✭✭✭

25 February 2014

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REVIEW: The Duchess Of Malfi, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse ✭✭✭✭✭

25 January 2014

View listing

Nearby venues

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse?

<p>The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is located at 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT, within the Shakespeare's Globe complex on the South Bank of the Thames. It is a short walk from both Southwark and London Bridge tube stations.</p>

Why is the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse performed by candlelight?

<p>The playhouse is modelled on indoor Jacobean theatres of the early seventeenth century, which were lit by candles rather than electric light. Using candelabras rather than modern stage lighting honours that historical context and creates an exceptionally warm, intimate atmosphere that transforms the audience's experience of the productions staged there.</p>

Who was Sam Wanamaker?

<p>Sam Wanamaker was an American actor and director who became the driving force behind the campaign to reconstruct a Globe Theatre on Bankside, close to the site where Shakespeare's original Globe stood. He worked on the project for nearly three decades and, although he passed away in 1993 before the open-air Globe opened, his legacy lives on through both the Globe itself and the indoor playhouse that bears his name.</p>

What kind of productions are staged at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse?

<p>The playhouse focuses primarily on early modern drama, including works by Shakespeare and his contemporaries from the Jacobean and Caroline periods. It also presents early opera, newly commissioned pieces inspired by that era, and occasional late-night and concert-style events. The intimate setting and candlelight make it especially well suited to work that benefits from close audience proximity and a heightened sense of occasion.</p>

How do I get to the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse by public transport?

<p>The closest Underground stations are Southwark on the Jubilee line and London Bridge, which is served by the Jubilee and Northern lines. London Bridge also has frequent mainline rail services and is roughly a ten-minute walk along the South Bank. Several bus routes serve the Bankside area, and the venue is easily accessible on foot across Southwark Bridge or Millennium Bridge from the north side of the river.</p>

How can I book tickets for the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse?

<p>Tickets can be purchased directly through the Shakespeare's Globe website. You can also book through <a href='https://www.tickadoo.com' target='_blank'>tickadoo</a>, built by the founders of London Theatre Direct, which provides a clear and straightforward booking process for London theatre performances.</p>

What's on at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse?

The current production at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is A World Elsewhere. Browse and book tickets directly through British Theatre.

What's the nearest tube station to Sam Wanamaker Playhouse?

The nearest tube station is Southwark (Jubilee line), London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern lines), Mansion House (District and Circle lines).

Where is Sam Wanamaker Playhouse?

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is located at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT, United Kingdom, SE1 9DT.

How can I contact Sam Wanamaker Playhouse?

You can call Sam Wanamaker Playhouse on 020 7401 9919. For tickets and bookings, please use British Theatre to secure the best seats.

What are the box office hours at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse?

The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse box office (ticket desk) operates: Monday: Open 24 hours; Tuesday: Open 24 hours; Wednesday: Open 24 hours; Thursday: Open 24 hours; Friday: Open 24 hours; Saturday: Open 24 hours; Sunday: Open 24 hours. Right now the box office is closed · opens sunday 12am. The theatre itself opens around 45 minutes before curtain-up — and you can book online any time through British Theatre.

Is Sam Wanamaker Playhouse accessible?

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse offers wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible toilets. Please contact the venue directly if you have specific access requirements.