There are countless things to do while vacationing in London holiday apartments, from exploring a world heritage site like the historic settlement of Greenwich to shopping in Oxford Street. One thing you must not forget while staying at a London vacation apartment is to experience world-class theatre.
West End Theatre
West End theatre is all about mainstream theatre staged in London's "Theatreland," the city's main theatre district, which features around 40 venues. Traditionally, the district is defined by Oxford Street to the north, Kingsway to the east, Regent Street to the west and The Strand to the south, with streets like The Strand, Shaftesbury Avenue and Drury Lane being the most prominent ones in the field of theatre. Here are some of the famous venues in West End:
- Savoy Theatre: Built by Richard D'Oyly Carte where the old Savoy Palace once stood, this theatre opened on October 10, 1881. It was the first public building in the world to be electrically lit. It has staged productions like Fiddler on the Roof and Carousel.
- Queen's Theatre: Designed by W.G.R. Sprague, this theatre opened on October 8, 1907. Seating 1,200 persons in 2 levels, Queen's has seen talents like George Bernard Shaw and Maggie Smith.
- Palace Theatre: Designed by Thomas Edward Collcutt, this red-brick building opened as the "Royal English Opera House" in January 1891. Seating 1,400 persons, this theatre has staged productions such as Jesus Christ Superstar and The Sound of Music.
- Lyceum Theatre: Designed by Samuel Beazley, this theatre opened on July 14, 1834 and has since then been rebuilt in rococo style by Bertie Crewe. Since 1999, it has been home to the musical version of the Disney animated film, The Lion King.
- Victoria Palace Theatre: Located opposite Victoria Station, this theatre began as a tiny concert room. Since it opened in 1911, it has had notable productions such as Me and My Girl and Annie.
- Vaudeville Theatre: Designed by C. J. Phipps, the theatre opened in 1870, staging mostly vaudeville shows in its early days. In recent years, some of its notable productions include The Importance of Being Earnest and Private Lives.
Repertory Theatre
Generally, repertory theatre is when a number of productions are performed in parallel, meaning you can watch several shows in a week at the same theatre, possibly with the same cast. The two most renowned repertoire companies in London are Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and The National Theatre.
- Shakespeare's Globe Theatre: Founded by the American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare's Globe is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, "dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare's work and the playhouse for which he wrote."
- The National Theatre: Designed by architects Sir Denys Lasdun and Peter Softley, the theatre contains 3 separate auditoria: The Olivier Theatre, which seats 1,160 people; The Lyttelton Theatre, which seats 890 people; and The Cottesloe Theatre, which can hold up to 400 people. Its notable productions include Oedipus, Sweeney Todd, Copenhagen and The History Boys.
Treat yourself to a show you will remember long after your vacation. Vamoose.com can help you search for a holiday apartment in London that has the price or amenities you are looking for.