Arts Theatre, London
Running time: 1hr 15mins (inc. interval)
Age Restrictions: This production is recommended for ages 18+
If you'd like to be the first to know when new events are announced, you can follow THE JUNGLE COMEDY LOCK-IN below.
After THE CHOIR OF MAN on Friday and Saturday nights, join us for THE JUNGLE COMEDY LOCK-IN! Starring some of London's top stand-up comedians, the show runs from 9:45 to 11:00 PM, filling the theatre with late-night laughter. The Jungle stage bar will be open before the show. Whether you're coming straight from THE CHOIR OF MAN or just for the comedy, you're in for a treat!
Please note: THE JUNGLE COMEDY LOCK-IN requires a separate ticket from THE CHOIR OF MAN. Be sure to purchase your 'Comedy Lock-In' ticket if you plan to stay for the comedy after THE CHOIR OF MAN.
Arts Theatre
Arts Theatre
6-7 Great Newport Street
London
WC2H 7JB
THE ARTS THEATRE, LONDON
The Arts Theatre seats 347 in a two-tier basement auditorium. It opened on 20 April 1927 as a members only club for the performance of unlicensed plays, thus avoiding theatre censorship by the Lord Chamberlain's office. It was one of a small number of committed, independent theatre companies, including the Hampstead Everyman, the Gate Theatre Studio and the Q Theatre, which took risks by producing a diverse range of new and experimental plays, or plays that were thought to be commercially non-viable on the West-End stage. The theatrical producer Norman Marshall referred to these as ‘The Other Theatre’ in his 1947 book of the same name.
The Arts Theatre opened with Picnic a revue by Herbert Farjeon, produced by Harold Scott and music by Beverley Nichols. Its first important production was Young Woodley by John Van Druten, staged in 1928, which later transferred to the Savoy Theatre when the Lord Chamberlain's ban was lifted. In 1938 a four week revival of the Stokes brothers' Oscar Wilde, starring Francis L. Sullivan and produced by Ronald Adam, opened on 25 October. This coincided with a Broadway production of the play. In 1942 Alec Clunes and John Hanau took over running of the theatre, and for ten years produced a wide range of plays, winning a reputation as a 'pocket national theatre.'
In August 1955, Peter Hall, aged 24, directed the English-language premiere of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot at the theatre. This was an important turning point in modern theatre for Britain. Subsequently, from 1956 to 1959, Hall ran the Arts Theatre.
From 1967 to 1999, the Arts Theatre also became a home for The Unicorn children's theatre under the direction of its founder Caryl Jenner who took over the lease. Meanwhile adult performances continued in the evening, including Tom Stoppard's satirical double-bill, Dirty Linen and Newfoundland which, opening in June 1976, ran for four years at the Arts.
The Arts Theatre's lease was taken over by a consortium of UK and US producers in 2000, for a five-year period, and relaunched as a West End Theatre with the anniversary production of Julian Mitchell's play Another Country, directed by Stephen Henry. Notable productions during this time included The Vagina Monologues and Closer to Heaven the Jonathan Harvey/Pet Shop Boys Musical.
Travel by train: Charing Cross. Nearest tube: Leicester Square/Covent Garden
