Arts Theatre, London
The theatre opened in 1927 with “Picnic” an intimate revue. As the theatre was run as a club it was outside the censorship regulations and as a result it presented many “controversial” plays otherwise not licensed by the Lord Chamberlain. Many productions first presented here later transferred to the West End. During the Second World War the theatre became the home of Lunch-Time Ballet and in 1942, until 1953, the actor Alec Clunes took over management with the Arts Theatre Group of Actors. After this time the lease changed hands several times and in the early 1960s the theatre was under threat of demolition.
In 1967 the lease was taken over by Caryl Jenner, the founder of the Unicorn Children’s Theatre. Children’s plays were performed in the day with adult plays performed in the evenings. The Unicorn theatre remained here until 2005 when it moved to purpose built premises in Southwark.
Past productions
- Choir of Man, AK Theatricals, Global Musicals, and Immersive Everywhere
- Choir of Man, AK Theatricals, Global Musicals, and Immersive Everywhere
- Six
- Ian McKellen on stage, Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Ian McKellen
- Ruthless! The Musical
- Mischief Movie Night, Mischief Theatre
- The Toxic Avenger, Flying Entertainment
- Rotterdam, Hartshorn-Hook Productions
- Judy!
- Dirty Great Love Story
- A View from Islington North, Out of Joint
- Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope
- Diao Chan, The Rise of the Courtesan, Dragonfly Productions and Grist to the Mill Productions
- All That Fall, Out of Joint
- The Taming of the Shrew, Custom / Practice
- Green Day’s American Idiot
- Vampire Hospital Waiting Room (Above the Arts), Beach Comet Theatricals
- Lovesong of the Electric Bear, DogOrange and Hope Theatre
- Gatsby, Ruby in the Dust
- The Speech / The Door (Above the Arts), Damn Cheek
- Leave Hitler to Me Lad (Above the Arts), Duckegg Theatre co
- Ushers
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream in New Orleans (Above the Arts), Ruby in the Dust
- A Foot in the Door (Above the Arts) Monthly, Paperback Pictures
- Ghost Stories
- Seussical the Musical
- Storm in a Flower Vase, Ann Pinnington Productions
- Beautiful Thing, Tom O’Connell for QNQ
- The Tailor-Made Man, Stephen McGill Productions
- Seussical the Musical!, Sell-a-Door Theatre
- A Christmas Carol, Simon Callow; Assembly & Riverside Studios
- All That Fall (A Radio Play), Jermyn Street Theatre
- Tim Key – Masterslut, Invisible Dot Co
- All That Fall
- Baggage
- The Complete World of Sports (Abridged), The Reduced Shakespeare Company
- Drag Divas, S G Productions
- Summer Arts Sundays
- A Walk On Part, Soho Theatre & New Writing North
- The Awkward Squad, Fresh Glory Productions & South Shields Custom House
- A Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson, Out of Joint
- Park Avenue Cat
- Bette and Joan, Andy Jordan Productions and Ann Pinnington Productions
- Shout!
- Woody Sez, The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie
- Toyer
- Jay Johnson: The Two and Only
- Impropera (5 Wednesdays)
- The Tempest, Tara
- Haunted
- 6–7 Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7JB
- Telephone: 020 7836 8463
- A proscenium theatre, seats 351.
- Opened 20th April 1927
- Official website
- Wikipedia
Also called
- Unicorn Arts Theatre, London (1967 – 1999)
- New Arts Theatre, London (April 1962 – January 1967)
- Arts Theatre Club, London (started 20th April 1927)
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