Opened in 1881 as the Royal Comedy Theatre, the Harold Pinter Theatre is a historic West End playhouse on Panton Street, just off Haymarket in the heart of London's theatreland. Designed by the architect Thomas Verity and built in only six months, it has stood for well over a century as one of the capital's most elegant mid-sized theatres. It is now owned by ATG Entertainment and named in honour of the celebrated British playwright Harold Pinter. The theatre opened its doors on 15 October 1881 and was soon known simply as the Comedy Theatre, a name it carried from 1884. Originally built for comic opera, it had a capacity of nearly twelve hundred in its early years. It underwent major reconstruction in the mid-1950s and reopened in December 1955, although the auditorium remains essentially that of 1881, and in 2011 it was renamed the Harold Pinter Theatre in tribute to the playwright shortly after his death. Architecturally it is among the most important survivals in the West End, one of only a handful of substantially complete pre-1890 theatre auditoria in central London. The Grade II listed building presents a classical stone facade to Panton Street, complete with a draped female figure in a first-floor recess, while inside three horseshoe-shaped balconies carry delicate plaster ornament beneath an elegant circular ceiling. A 2011 refurbishment redecorated the interior in keeping with the period and added the Moonlight Bar. The theatre seats around seven hundred and ninety-six across four levels, comprising the stalls, dress circle, royal circle and balcony. This mid-range capacity gives it a sense of intimacy unusual for the West End, with audiences feeling well connected to the stage from every section, a quality that has made it a favoured home for serious drama. Over its long history the theatre has staged a string of landmark productions, including works by Harold Pinter himself, alongside a wider mix of drama, comedy and acclaimed revivals. Surrounded by some of London's most famous theatres and moments from Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, it remains a distinguished and much-loved part of the West End.

Type: Theater / Concert Hall

Address: 6 Panton Street, London, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.haroldpintertheatre.co.uk

Capacity: 796

Opening Date: 15/10/1881