The Garrick: Auditorium

Opening in 1889, The Garrick Theatre has hosted a huge variety of productions over the years and is renowned for housing comedies and melodramas. It was originally financed by playwright W. S. Gilbert and named after David Garrick, one of the most influential Shakespearean actors. The Garrick Theatre was designed by Walter Emden alongside consultant C.J Phillips who had the challenge of building the theatre over an underground river. The original Gallery level which gave the theatre a capacity of 800 is closed and the theatre now seats 732 people. A proposed redevelopment of Covent Garden in 1968 put the future of the Garrick in jeopardy, but a campaign by Equity, the Musician’s Union and various theatre owners secured its future. In 1986 the theatre was acquired by the Stoll Moss Group and the gold leaf auditorium was restored and in 1997 the front of the theatre was renovated. The Garrick is a Grade II listed building and still thriving today.