The Dominion Theatre
The Dominion Theatre is situated immediately next to Tottenham Court Road tube station, at the junction with New Oxford Street. Although its position is central, the property is some distance away from the rest of the West End’s ‘Theatreland’. The building was in the first place constructed in 1928 and converted to cinema use in the 1930’s.
According to “The Theatres of London” book, by Richard Mander and Joe Mitchenson, this was at one time the site for the St Giles’s Leper Hospital, founded in 1101 by Matilda, Queen of Henry I. A brewery had encompassed the ground as far back as 1764, and in 1809 Henry Meux took possession of the brewery, naming it Meux’s Brewery.
It was established on two sites, with the auditorium and stage on a site previously occupied by Meux’s brewery. It was designed by the architects William & T. R. Milburn.
The Dominion opened on 3rd October 1929 with an American musical comedy on golf by De Sylvia Brown and Henderson called Follow Through. Neither this, nor a follow up musical, Silver Wings were very successful. Later, there followed Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights without dialogue, but with synchronised music and sound effects. It opened in February 1931, with Chaplin making a personal appearance. More live shows followed, but in April 1932 a receiver was appointed with a compulsory winding up order being made on 30th May 1932. In the mid 1980s the Dominion hosted the musical Time, which demanded gutting and rebuilding the theatre to accommodate the show’s innovative effects.Since the early 1990s the venue has played host to a unique adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar, David Ian and Paul Nicholas’ new production of Grease, Scrooge: The Musical, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, a return of Grease, and Notre Dame de Paris among others. Bernadette The Musical, written by Maureen and Gwyn Hughes, also enjoyed a short run in 1990.In 2002, the hit stage musical We Will Rock You, founded on the songs of Queen, created by Queen guitarist Brian May and British comedian Ben Elton opened. The show was due to close in October 2006 before embarking on a UK tour, but due to popular demand has been extended indefinitely.
Dominion Theatre Tickets