We're Going on a Bear Hunt at Lyric Theatre

The Lyric Theatre is situated on Shaftesbury Avenue in the West End of London, close to Piccadilly Circus tube station. Built in 1888, this 959 seat venue is the oldest theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.

The first production at the Lyric Theatre was Dorothy, a comic opera by BC Stevenson, which opened on December 17^th 1888. Among the most countless other notable shows to have graced this venerable West End theatre’s stage since then are The Royal Family, How the Other Half Loves, Steel Magnolias, An Ideal Husband and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Today, the Lyric enjoys consistent success and is known for its eclectic mix of light comedies, dramas and musicals.

Like any long-serving institution, it has undergone it fair share of transformations over the years. Refurbishments were carried out in 1932 in order to restore the foyer and bar areas and the exterior of the venue was restored in 1994.

Although at 959 seats it is only moderately sized for a West End theatre, the theatre has four levels; the stalls, dress circle, upper circle and the balcony.

The Lyric is unusual in that water is still used to operate its iron curtain. Originally this water was pumped from the Thames and used to hydraulically operate lifts and all other heavy machinery. Today the Lyric's iron curtain is operated via an electric pump but can also be operated manually by two people at a time.

The layout, size and atmosphere of the Lyric Theatre make it the perfect place to see large scale plays and musicals in a modestly sized venue. Recent successes include Death of a Salesman, Grumpy Old Women, Cabaret, Hairspray, Eddie Izzard: Stripped and Thriller Live. 

Whatever you decide to see at the Lyric Theatre, we wish you an entertaining and rewarding visit.