UK – London – Ambassadors Theatre

Dates: 1913 – present

Official website: http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/ambassadors-theatre

Designed by W.G.R.Sprague as a development consisting of two theatres (St Martins Theatre construction was delayed by the First World War, and opened in 1916)

Selected Past Productions

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (10 October 2024 – 15 February 2025)
Kathy & Stella Solve A Murder (25 May – 14 September 2024)
Harry Clarke (9 March 2024 – 11 May 2024)
The Enfield Haunting (30 November 2023 – 2 March 2024)
Private Lives (31 August 2023 – 25 November 2023)
Rose (23 May – 18 June 2023)
Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial (6 April 2023 – 20 May 2023)
My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) (25 January – 1 April 2023)
One Woman Show (13 December 2022 – 21 January 2023)
Mad House (14 June 2022 – 4 September 2022)
Cock (Opened 5th March 2022, closed 4th June 2022) by Mike Bartlett, starring Taron Egerton, Jonathan Bailey, Jade Anouka, Phil Daniels. Directed by Marianne Elliott.
The Shark is Broken (Opens 9th October 2021, closes 15th January 2022)
Baby Reindeer (Due to open 2nd April 2020 and close 02 May 2020 but show was postponed due to Coronavirus)
Ghost Stories (3 October 2019 – 4 January 2020)
Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 The Musical (15 June – 28 September 2019)
The Twilight Zone (4 March 2019 – 1 June 2019)
Songs for Nobodies (9 January 2019 – 23 February 2019)
Switzerland (1 November 2018 – 5 January 2019)
Foxfinder (6 September 2018 – 24 October 2018)
Pressure (6 June 2018 – 1 September 2018)
Mindgame (15 May 2018 – 2 June 2018)
All Or Nothing (28 March 2018 – 12 May 2018)
Beginning (17 January 2018 – 24 March 2018) by David Eldridge, transfer from the National Theatre
2014 – Stephen Waley-Cohen announced plans to sell the venue to Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, who originally intended to rename the theatre after Stephen Sondheim once the sale is completed.
Stomp (4 October 2007 – 7 January 2018)
Little Shop of Horrors (29 June 2007 – 8 September 2007) Menier Chocolate Factory’s revival
4 April 2007 – Announced that ATG had sold the venue to Stephen Waley-Cohen, who renamed the venue The Ambassadors and carried out extensive refurbishments
Whipping It Up (22 February 2007 – 16 June 2007) starring Richard Wilson & Richard Bathurst
Love Song (24 November 2006 – 24 February 2007) by John Kolvenbach starring Cillian Murphy and Neve Campbell
Waiting for Godot (September 2006 – November 2006)
On The Third Day (22 June 2006 – 29 July 2006)
Hamlet (20 February 2006 – 22 April 2006)
Journey’s End (24 June 2005 – 28 January 2006)
Telstar (24 June 2005 – 10 September 2005)
Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (19 April 2005 – 18 June 2005)
Ying Tong: A Walk with the Goons (14 February 2005 – 19 March 2005)
Sweeney Todd (13 October 2004 – 5 February 2005) Watermill Theatre production
Guantanamo: Honour Bound To Defend (23 June 2004 – 4 September 2004)
The Shape of Things (17 May 2004 – 12 June 2004)
Stones in His Pockets (14 July 2003 – 1 May 2004) transferred from Duke of Yorks Theatre
The Bomb-Itty Of Errors (? to 12 July 2003)
Abigail’s Party (3 Dec 2002 to April 5 2003) transferred to the Whitehall Theatre
The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband ( to 30 November 2002) starring Alison Steadman and Daisy Donovan
The Vagina Monologues (10 May 2001 – October 2001 then 26 February 2002 to 22 June 2002) (transferred to the Arts Theatre 23 October – 26 Feb 2002 and then 25 June 2002 – 12 October 2002) designed by Bunny Christie, lighting by Chris Davey
Pub Landlord Live starring Al Murray
Krapp’s Last Tape by Samuel Beckett starring John Hurt (Previewed 25 January 2000, Opened 27 January 2000, Closed 11 March 2000)
Spoonface Steinberg by Lee Hall (Previewed 4 January 2000, Opened 5 January 2000, Closed 22 January 2000)
Some Explicit Polaroids by Mark Ravenhill (Previewed 12 October 1999, Opened 14 October 1999, Closed 20 November 1999)
1999 – Venue returned to its’ original design and renamed the New Ambassadors
Frantic Assembly: Sell Out (to July 4 1999) Written by MIchael Wynne, choreography by T.C.Howard, Lighting by Natasha Chivers. Soundtrack/DJ: Andy Cleeton.
Holy Mothers (to July 3 1999) directed by Richard Jones, designed by Stewart Laing.
Double Bill: About the Boy / B22 (28-30 November, 3/4 December 1998)
Double Bill: The Crutch / Four (30 November, 3/4 December 1998)
Double Bill: Bluebird and In the Family / Trade (27 November 1998 – ?)
Real Classy Affair (October 1998 – 7 November 1998) starring Liza Walker, Jason Hughes, Joseph Fiennes
Crave (8 September 1998 – 3 October 1998) directed by Vicky Featherstone
Yard Gal (May 1998)
Never Land (from 8 January 1998) directed by Steven Pimlott, starring Michelle Fairley, Shiela Gish, Anthony Calf, Pip Donaghy
Bazaar (from 25 November 1997) starring Adrian Edmondson, Nitzan Sharron, Nicholas Woodeson
One More Wasted Year (from 18 November 1997)
Faith (October – November 1997)
The Censor (previews 4 September 1997, opened 8 September 1997 , closed 27 September 1997)
Sizwe Banshi Is Dead (?24 June 1997 – ?)
Things Fall Apart (opened 12 June 1997, to 21 June 1997)
Cockroach, Who? (?11 February 1997 – 1 March 1997) Stage Space. Directed by Caroline Hall.
Backpay (previews 6 February 1997, opened 10 February 1997, closed 1 March 1997) Circle Space. Directed by Mary Peate.
The Fever (opened 8 January 1997, to 25 January 1997) Stage Space. Performed by Clare Coulter
Shopping & F**king (opened 7 January 1997, to 1 February 1997) Circle Space. Directed by Max Stafford-Clark for Out of Joint. Limited run.
1996 – Venue bought by The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) and split into two small spaces (Stage Space and Circle Space), by creating a false floor at circle level.
East is East (22 November 1996 – )
Ashes to Ashes (12 September – 26 October 1996) starring Lindsay Duncan & Stephen Rea. Theatre Downstairs.
Dames At Sea (?30 May 1996 – ?) starring Sara Crowe, Kim Criswell, Peter Duncan
Trainspotting (previews 11 December 1995, opened , closed ? January 1995)
Burning Blue (?October 1995 – 2 December 1995)
The Killing of Sister George (previews 25 April 1995, opened 26 April 1995, closed ?) by Frank Marcus, starring Miriam Margoyles, Josephine Tewson, Serena Evans
900 Oneonta (? start date, running 25 October 1994, to 30 November 1994) by David Beaird, transfer from The Old Vic, starring Eddie Izzard
- Improv with Eddie Izzard on Friday nights during his run at 10.15pm.
The Cryptogram (from 13 June 1994 – ?) by David Mamet. Starring Lindsay Duncan & Eddie Izzard.Directed by Gregory Mosher. World Premiere.
April in Paris (Previews from 25 January 1994, opened 1 February 1994, closed 30 April 1994)
Vita & Virginia (previews 1 October 1993, opens 10 October 1993, closed ) by & starring Eileen Atkins, also starring Penelope Wilton, directed by Patrick Garland
From A Jack To A King (previews from 16 July 1992, opened 20 July 1992, closed ?) transfers in July 1992 from Boulevard Theatre, closed end of May 1992.
Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know (previews from 20 May, opened 26 May 1992 for 6 weeks, to 4 July 1992) starring Derek Jacobi & Isla Blair. Devised & Directed by Jane McCulloch
Thunderbirds F.A.B. (19 September 1991 – extended to 11 Jan 1992 ) starring Paul Kent & Wayne Forester. Direct from run at The Mermaid
Kit & The Widow (from 8 May 1991 for 6 weeks)
My Lovely… Shayna Maidel (2 April 1991 – 27 April 1991) by Barbara Lebow, starring Anita Dobson and Peter O’Brien
The Rod, Jane and Freddy Christmas Show (December 1990 matinees)
The Mystery of Irma Vep (Previews 25 October 1990, Opened 30 October 1990, Closed 5 January 1991) by Charles Ludlum. Starring Nickolas Grace, Edward Hibbert. Directed by Maria Aitken. Set Design by Poppy Mitchell. Costumes by Hugh Durrant. Lighting Design by Chris Ellis.
Les Liasions Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton with Alan Rickman – RSC production (October 1986 to September 1990)
84 Charing Cross Road (2nd year, in 1983) starring Doreen Mantle and Ronnie Stevens
Dangerous Corner (17 December 1980 – 26 September 1981) by J.B.Priestley
Dylan Thomas Growing Up (March 1980)
Mother Dear (1980)
Bodies (1979-80)
The Mousetrap (25 November 1952 – 23 March 1974) – the show transferred to St Martins Theatre, next door, opening on 25 March 1974, so keeping the continuous run.
The Mask of Virtue (1935) starring Vivien Leigh in her West End debut.
To See Ourselves (December 11, 1930 – ?)
Rope (1929) by Patrick Hamilton
Charles I (September 21 1922 – )
The Curates Egg (1922)

Equipment

From the 1971 The Stage Guide
Electrics: Strand Grand Master on SL gantry. Dimmers – 48 (450 to 1875W all +/- 1/3). Total capacity to stage – 100A on each of 3 phases. Special effects supply – 50A on 1 phase. No follow spots. Footlights can be covered.
From the 1978 and 1987 British Theatre Directory:
Switchboard: Strand SP60/3 in Prompt Side stage box
2003: Arri Image 250 (72 circuits)