Leicester Square Theatre

• Theatre ID
  20
• Built / Converted
  —
• Dates of use
  • 2002: continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre
• Address
  6 Leicester Place, off Leicester Square, Westminster, London, Greater London, WC2H 7BX, England
• Website
  • Leicester Square Theatre

Details

Converted from the basement/crypt of the Notre Dame de Paris RC Church close to Leicester Square, a circular church of 1955 replacing an earlier iron church of 1868 and built on the foundation of Burford’s Panorama of 1789 (hence the circular plan). The space was the parochial church hall, but known as the 'Cavern in the Town' in the 1960s and Notre Dame Hall in the 1970s, it has a history of use as a music venue, including an early gig by the Sex Pistols. Acquired by Parry and converted for theatre use in January 2002, it opened as The Venue with Boy George in ‘Taboo’. Effectively self-contained from the church above, but use is constrained by timing of services. Small box office at ground floor entrance, bar and toilets at semi-basement. Auditorium and stage created within the large flat-floored circular space (twelve bays with pillars around the edge) directly below the church. Low ceiling, so no flying and limited suspension. As The Venue, seating was arranged in three banks of twelve rows each to face shallow three-sided low open stage - a space far more comfortable than most ‘fringe’ spaces. In 2008 the theatre was refurbished and re-opened as the Leicester Square Theatre (not to be confused with the building of that name sited in the South West corner of Leicester Square, currently the Odeon West End). Its speciality is still as an intimate venue hosting comedy, cabaret and live music.

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• Other names
  The Venue, Cavern in the Town, Notre Dame Hall
• Events
  • 2002 Use: continuing
  • 2002 Owner/Management: Parry
• Capacities
  • Original: 329
  • Current: 329
• Listings
  • Grade Unknown
• Stage type
  • open/thrust
• Dimensions
  • Orchestra pit: none