UK – London – Garrick Theatre

Dates: 1889 – present

Seats 1200 people. All seats have excellent stage views.

The building of the Garrick was especially difficult as it had an underground river running beneath it.

1970s Plan

The Garrick was one of five theatres that were almost demolished due to a plan to redevelop the Covent Garden area by the Greater London Council (GLC), in 1971. The GLC planned to build new theatres to replace them. However, the plan was abandoned in 1973 after a campaign by the Covent Garden Community Association.
Guardian article about the plan which contains fascinating insights into the financial workings of West End theatre in the 1970s.

Selected Past Productions

For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy (29 February 2024 – 4 May 2024)
Hamnet (30 September 2023 – 17 February 2024)
The Gruffalo’s Child ( – 7 January 2024)
The Crown Jewels ( – 16 September 2023)
Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors ( – 2 September 2023)
Bonnie & Clyde (04 March 2023 – 20 May 2023)
Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle (15 January 2023 – 26 March 2023)
Orlando (25 November 2022 – 25 February 2023)
Death Drop: Back in the Habit (8th November 2022 – 20th November 2022)
My Son’s A Queer But What Can You Do (21st October 2022 – 6th November 2022)
Emojiland (31 October 2022)
The Drifters Girl (4 November 2021 – 15 October 2022)
Horrible Histories: The Terrible Tudors (28th July 2022 – 3rd September 2022)
Showstopper: The Improvised Musical (7 December 2020 – 21 March 2022)
Potted Panto (11 December 2021 – 9 January 2022)
The Last Five Years (17 September 2021 – 17 October 2021)
Billionaire Boy (17 July 2021 – 22 August 2021)
Death Drop (19 May 2021 – 11 July 2021)
Bitter Wheat (7 June 2019 – ?) starring John Malkovich, written by David Mamet
Don Quixote (27 October 2018 – 2 February 2019)
Young Frankenstein (Previews 28 September 2017, Opens 10 October 2017, Closes 25 August 2018)
The Miser (Previews 1 March 2017, Opens 13 March 2017, Closes 3 June 2017) starring Griff Rhys Jones and Lee Mack.
This House (Previews 19 November 2016, Opens 30 November 2016 – 25 Feb 2017)
The Scottsboro Boys (4 October 2014 – 21 February 2015) transfer from The Young Vic
Let It Be (21 July 2014 – ? and then March 2015 – 27 September 2015)
Rock of Ages (2013) transferred from the Shaftesbury Theatre
Loserville (2012)
Chicago (7 November 2011 – September 1 2012) transferred from the Cambridge Theatre
Pygmalion (2011) starring Rupert Everett and Kara Tointon
A Little Night Music (2009 – 2011)
Zorro (2008) Musical by The Gipsy Kings
In 2005 veteran producers Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer purchased the Garrick Theatre, along with the Apollo, Duchess and Lyric Theatres creating Nimax Theatres on 26 September 2005. The Vaudeville Theatre, solely owned by Max Weitzenhoffer, completes the Nimax portfolio.
This is Our Youth (Previews 13 November 2002) starring Kieran Culkin, Colin Hanks,
The Lieutenant of Inishmore (21 June 2002 – 2 November 2002) by Martin McDonagh
This is Our Youth (previews 2 March 2002, opened 15 March 2002, closed June 2002) starring Hayden Christiansen, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anna Paquin, then Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, Summer Phoenix
Dangerous Corner (previews from 6 November 2001, closed 23 February 2002)
Feelgood (21 April 2001 – 27 October 2001) starring Henry Goodman, Nigel Planer, Sian Thomas, Peter Capaldi. Directed by Max Stafford-Clark.
2000 The Garrick becomes a Really Useful Theatre with Lord Lloyd-Webber’s Really Useful Group and Bridgepoint Capital purchased Stoll Moss Theatres Ltd.
An Inspector Calls (from 20 October 1995 – 14 April 2001)
Harry Hill (30 September 1995)
Unforgettable (previews from 14 June 1995, opened 19 June 1995, closed 2 September 1995) starring Clarke Peters
The Plough and the Stars (2 May 1995 – 10 June 1995)
Live Bed Show (previews 30 January 1995, opened 7 February 1995, closed 29 April 1995) by Arthur Smith. Starring Paul Merton & Caroline Quentin.
Fascinating Aida (6 December 1994 – 21 January 1995)
Moscow Stations (previews from ?9 October 1994, opened 11 October 1994, closed 4 December 1994) starring Tom Courtenay. Limited run.
The Canterbury Tales (previews from 6 July 1994) starring Brian Glover
Footfalls (14 March 1994 – 21 March 1994) by Samuel Beckett. Starring Fiona Shaw. West End premiere of this 1975 play.
One Man (Previews 8 November 1993, Press Night 15 November 1993, Closed 15 January 1994) Steven Berkoff. Limited season.
On the Piste (Previews 18 February 1993, Opened 24 February 1993, Closed 25 September 1993)
Dancing at Lughnasa (December 1991 – 13 February 1993) transferred from the Phoenix
Kvetch (October 1991 – 14 December 1991) Steven Berkoff, Anita Dobson, Henry Goodman
Don Giovanni / Figaro (?September 1991 – ) New versions by Tony Britten & Nick Broadhurst
The Rehearsal (1990 – 13 July 1991) Nicola Pagett, Jonathan Hyde, Jonathan Kent. Costumes by Jasper Conran (Olivier Award winner 1991)
1986 The Garrick was acquired by Stoll Moss Theatres and refurbished. It reopened in November with Judi Dench and Michael Williams in Mr and Mrs Nobody.
No Sex Please, We’re British (18 January 1982-1986) transferred from the Strand Theatre. Until 1986 when it transferred to the Duchess.
Caught In The Act (4 September 1981 – 16 January 1982)
Goose-Pimples (29 April – 22 August 1981) devised by Mike Leigh
Aspects of Max Wall (16 February 1981 – 21 March 1981) one-man show
Deathtrap (26 October 1978 – 7 February 1981) by Ira Levin
Side By Side By Sondheim (1977) transferred from Wyndham’s Theatre
Funny Peculiar (1976) starring Richard Beckinsale
Sleuth (1972 – 9 October 1973) transferred from St Martins Theatre, transferred to Fortune Theatre
Don’t Just Lie There Say Something (1971) with Brian Rix
Uproar in the House () with Brian Rix
Let Sleeping Wives Lie () with Brian Rix
Stand By Your Bedouin (1967) with Brian Rix
Fings Ain’t Wot They Used To Be (1960 – 1962) starring Miriam Karlin, written by Lionel Bart
The Dock Brief (1958) starring Maurice Denham, Michael Hordern
La Plume de Ma Tante (1955 – 1957)
Born Yesterday (1947) starring Jack Buchanan, directed by Laurence Olivier
1946: Jack Buchanan became actor/manager of The Garrick
Better Late (1946) starring Beatrice Lille
Love On The Dole (1930s)
The Water Carrier (1930s)
The Bandits (1931)
The Lady With the Lamp (1929) starring Edith Evans
1928: C B Cochran took over the lease
Dracula (1927) adaptation from Bram Stoker
The Ghost Train (1926) by Arnold Ridley
1924: A E Abrahams took over the lease
The Man In Dress Clothes (1922)
The Eclipse (12 Nov 1919 – 3 Jan 1920) featuring design by Adrian Samoiloff
1915: Arthur Bouchier relinquished management.
Kismet (1911)
The Walls of Jericho (1905 – 1906) by Alfred Sutro
The Merchant of Venice (1905)
Whitewashing Julia (1903)
The Clandestine Marriage (1903)
The Water Babies (1902)
The Wedding Guest (1900) by J.M.Barrie
1900 Arthur Bouchier took over management with his wife Violet Vanbrugh
22A Curzon Street (1898)
The Rogues (1895)
The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith (1895) by Arthur Wing Pinero starred Mrs Patrick Campbell.
Robin Goodfellow (1893)
A Pair of Spectacles (1890)

Equipment

1971 (from The Stage Guide)
Electrics: Strand ‘SR’ board to SL. Dimmers – 91; 1 preset; 5 groups. Circuits – FOH 24; Flies 48; Stage dips 12. Socket type – 15A BESA. Total capacity available – 620A on 3 phases. Special effects supply – 100A on 1 phase. Follow spots – 2 Patt.93 in Gallery. Footlights installed and cannot be covered.
Sound: Console SL. 1 amplifier. No tape deck. 2 Turntables. No mic sockets or loudspeakers.