Experience a slice of London’s much-admired West End theatre district at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Prepare for an onslaught of colour, excitement and surprises as talented actors perform evening and matinee shows suitable for all ages. Admire the building’s striking exterior and nautical-inspired interior designs. Enjoy pre-show cocktails and themed drinks at the theatre’s bar.
The Apollo Victoria Theatre opened as a cinema in 1930. It reopened as a musical theatre with a Shirley Bassey concert and then a production of The Sound of Music in 1981, which featured the English singer Petula Clark in the lead role. In 1984 the theatre became the debut venue for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long-running show Starlight Express. Other shows to have graced the stage include Fiddler on the Roof and the Bee Gee’s Saturday Night Fever.
Since 2006, the theatre has hosted the award-winning musical Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz. Sit among the 2,200-seat audience and be transported into the world of Elphaba and Glinda, the witches from the Wizard of Oz. Marvel as the actors sing, dance and carry out gravity-defying stunts.
Take a moment to appreciate the theatre’s architecture, which has identical art deco-style facades on either side of the building. Note the interior decorations, which resemble shells and fountains. The former Gaumont British News once described the theatre as “a fairy cavern under the sea, or a mermaid’s dream of heaven.”
Complement your attendance to a show with a visit to the theatre bar. Choose between a selection of snacks, soft drinks and wines. Sip on champagne cocktails and drinks inspired by the show’s main characters.
The Apollo Victoria Theatre is just a short walk from Victoria Station, which is served by both trains and the London Underground. Public buses stop close to the theatre’s entrance and Victoria Coach Station is less than 10 minutes away by foot. Buckingham Palace and Westminster Cathedral are among several major London attractions situated close by.
Performances at the theatre run from Monday to Saturday. Matinee shows take place on Wednesday and Saturday. Purchase tickets at the box office or via the official website.
