The Tom Stoppard Theatre is one of the West End’s best-loved and most successful playhouses. Renamed in 2026 for Tom Stoppard, creating a lasting tribute in the heart of the West End to one of the most influential playwrights in British theatre. The theatre was originally called the Trafalgar Square Theatre, having also been renamed in 1894 for King George V as the Duke of Yorks’ Theatre. The first to be built on St. Martin’s Lane, it backs onto the Garrick Theatre in adjacent Charing Cross Road. The theatre’s gilded auditorium was constructed on three levels with several spacious boxes on each. The Tom Stoppard Theatre was noteworthy in that it also had real fire places in its auditorium.
The first production of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan opened here in 1904 and was revived every Christmas for the next ten years. A quirky mix of dramatic and comedic plays have ensued since, attracting some of acting’s most critically acclaimed talent to its stage. The Tom Stoppard Theatre is proud to offer the aptly named JM Barrie Bar, decorated by images and documents in honour of this historical production.
In 2026 we welcomed Sheridan Smith in Woman in Mind, Rebecca Lucy Taylor starting in Teeth ‘n’ Smiles and mostly recently our new name sakes production of Arcadia. RENT will be the venues first full production as The Tom Stoppard Theatre.