39 Steps & The Criterion

Apart from the Box Office area, the entire theatre is under ground, and is reached by descending a strikingly tiled stairway. The theatre was originally intended as a concert hall, but it was decided to change it to a theatre during the construction. The building was originally gaslight and had only basic ventilation, in 1883 it was forced to close by the local council. The theatre was then modified with proper ventilation and was electrified and reopened the following year. Like other theatres from the same period, columns are used to support both the Dress Circle and the Upper Circle, which means that many of the seats have a 'restricted view'. The theatre closed in 1989 (during the reconstruction of Piccadilly Circus) and was extensively refurbished, reopening in October 1992.

Recent productions at this theatre include Kevin Elyot's comedy "My Night With Reg" which transferred here from the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs on 21 November 1994 and went on to win the Best Comedy Award, Evening Standard Awards 1994. The Reduced Shakespeare Company's production of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Abridged" opened here on 7 March 1996.