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ABOUT THE LYCEUM THEATRE
The Lyceum Theatre London is located on Wellington Street at the junction of Strand and Aldwych close to Covent Garden. This grand old theatre was originally built in 1772 on the site of Madame Tussaud´s first waxworks collection - whose ghost occasionally hangs about by the orchestra stalls. It was later demolished and redesigned by Samuel Beazley, reopening in 1815 as the first theatre to be lit by gas, only to burn down 15 years later. In July 1834, Beazley's new and far more impressive theatre opened, with a stunning portico frontage, that remains today, and a balcony overhanging the circle - an architectural achievement of its own.
The great actor Henry Irving became associated with the Lyceum Theatre in 1871 and it was when he took on the lead role in Shakespeare's ´Hamlet´ in 1874 that he made his mark as a legend of his day. Irving became the theatre's manager in 1878, a position he indulged in for 21 years until a fire and financial issues forced him to sell. The theatre was later demolished, reconstructed and reopened in 1904. The theatre closed in 1939 when demolition plans were announced to make way for new road developments and the closing performance of ´Hamlet´ was directed by the outstanding John Gielgud. WWII postponed the demolition leaving the theatre empty until it reopened in 1945 as a ballroom. This great venue was later used for pop and rock concerts, playing host to the likes of U2, Bob Marley, The Who and Culture Club.
Theatre returned to the stage in 1985 with a series titled ´The Mystery Plays´ but it was shortly closed again, remaining sad and lonely until the current owners refurbished the building, raising the curtains once again in 1996 with a revival of the Andrew Webber / Tim Rice musical ´Jesus Christ Superstar´, with ´Oklahoma!´ following in January ´99.
The stage adaptation of Disney's ´The Lion King´ is the current production at the Lyceum Theatre where it has been delighting audiences of all ages since opening here in September 1999. This award winning Broadway musical tells the story of Simba and his adventures, supported by the Tony Award winning music score by Elton John and Tim Rice.
Covent Garden underground station and Charing Cross underground and rail station are the closest to the theatre.
The cheapest way to buy tickets is to buy directly from the theatres´ box office where the show is playing. Or, purchase your tickets from the ´Half Price Ticket Booth´ (AKA ´tkts´) located in Leicester Square, where they sell ´on the day´ tickets for all of the West End shows at a discount rate. The booth is open Monday to Saturday from 10am - 7pm and Sundays from 12pm - 3.30pm. There is a service fee of £2.50 per ticket and a maximum of 4 tickets per person. Avoid touts hanging about the theatres and any other ticket agencies around the West End that appear a little dodgy as tickets may not be legitimate. Always ask if your seat is in a restricted viewing area. You can also purchase a theatre and hotel package which saves money all round.
However, the best thing to do if you have your heart set on seeing a particular show is to book ahead. You will be guaranteed a good seat, a great view and a fab night out.
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Wellington Street, London, UK WC2E 7DA 