Phoenix Theatre

While the elevation of this theatre which fronts onto Charing Cross Road looks rather drab, the art deco interior with extensive use of mirrors which was designed by the Russian director and designer Theodore Komisarjevsky, is wonderful. In the 1970's the entrance to the theatre was moved from Charing Cross Road to around the corner in Phoenix Street, while the Advance Box Office is actually half way between the two in Charing Cross Road, an arrangement that can prove confusing. In 1986 part of the adjacent car park, which had been a former bomb site, was used to build a cinema, but this has now been demolished to make way for a residential development.

This theatre is particularly associated with Noel Coward. The opening production was the premiere of Coward's comedy "Private Lives" which featured Noel Coward, Gertrude Lawrence, Laurence Olivier and Adrienne Allen in the cast. The production lasted 3 months before it transferred to Broadway. Noel and Gertie returned to the theatre in 1936 with his programme of 9 one act plays which played under the heading of Tonight at 8.30. In December 1969 the foyer bar was renamed 'The Noel Coward Bar' and on 16 December 1969 the theatre owners organised a special midnight matinee in honour of Coward's 70th birthday.

Other productions here include, in 1968, "The Canterbury Tales" which had a run of over 2,000 performances and Tom Stoppard's "Night and Day" which run for two years. In 1991 Willy Russell's musical "Blood Brothers" transferred here from The Albery Theatre and is now the longest running show at The Phoenix Theatre.