Ghost Stories

The theatre was originally called The Trafalgar Square Theatre, being just 100 yards from Trafalgar Square. The name was shortened to The Trafalgar Theatre in 1894 before being changed completely to The Duke of York's Theatre in 1895. During the late 1990's the name was temporarily changed to The Royal Court Theatre Downstairs before reverting back The Duke of York's Theatre. Originally seating 900 on four levels, the top level (the balcony) has now been closed with the seating capacity reduced to the current 640.
Although the theatre under went refurbishment in 1979 when structural alterations were made to remove some of the columns supporting the circle, a number of seats still suffer from a restricted view of the stage.
Productions staged here include a successful run of Richard Harris's play "Stepping Out" which run for just under 3 years while Willy Russell's "Shirley Valentine" enjoyed a run of over 2 years here. Between October 1995 and March 1996 the Royal Court presented Ron Hutchinson's "Rat in the Skull", Terry Johnson's "Hysteria" and David Storey's "The Changing Room" as part of a 'Royal Court Classics' season. This was then followed by a revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Alan Ayckbourn musical, "By Jeeves", a musical which had originally been seen in 1975 but which had now been virtually rewritten - it opened on 2 July 1996 and closed on 28 September 1996 when it transferred to the Lyric Theatre. After this the Theatre was taken over by The Royal Court Theatre for the next four years, before in August 2000 the comedy hit "Stones in his Pockets" transferred here from the New Ambassadors Theatre.

Travel directions

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Take the Piccadilly or Northern Line to Leicester Square station. Exit onto Charing Cross Road. The theatre is approximately 5 minutes walk.

Nearest underground station: Leicester Square

Nearest train station: Charing Cross

Buses: 14, 19, 22, 24, 29, 38, 40, 176