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 Looking down Ossulston Street: the Shaw Theatre is on the left | |
 Interactive map of The Shaw Theatre | |
| Address | 100Euston Road London,NW1 England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°31′43″N0°07′41″W / 51.5287°N 0.128°W /51.5287; -0.128 |
| Public transit |  King's Cross St Pancras King's CrossSt Pancras |
| Capacity | 446 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1971 |
| Rebuilt | 1998 |
| Website | |
| shaw-theatre.com | |
TheShaw Theatre is atheatre inSomers Town, in theLondon Borough of Camden. It is a part of thePullman London St Pancras hotel, located offEuston Road. The Shaw has 446 seats and two large foyers, four largedressing rooms for up to 60 people and extensive high-qualitybackstage facilities which include aworkshop studio andlaundry facilities. There isdisabled access,cloakroom facilities and abar serving drinks and refreshments. The venue is also used forexhibitions.
The Shaw Theatre originally opened its doors in 1971 as a purpose-built theatre within theSt Pancras library, originally known asThe Library Theatre. The opening production was the showZigger Zagger[1] with a cast that includedBarrie Rutter andPaula Wilcox. In 1972,Simon Ward andSinéad Cusack appeared inRomeo and Juliet. Later in the same yearVanessa Redgrave,Nyree Dawn Porter andWindsor Davies starred inTwelfth Night. Other stars who appeared in the theatre's early days includedIan McKellen,Mia Farrow,Julia McKenzie andRaymond Francis. The theatre hosted a series of 'Sunday nights at the Shaw', with many notable actors includingJudi Dench, DameFlora Robson,Patricia Routledge andMichael Williams. It also hosted numerous productions by theNational Youth Theatre.[2]
Notable musicians, actors andcomedians who have performed at the Shaw Theatre includeDionne Warwick,Kerry Ellis,Eartha Kitt,Boy George,Van Morrison,Harry Connick Jr.,Ron Moody andJanie Dee, whose concert included a surprise performance by SirAndrew Lloyd Webber. The successfulAn Evening With ... nights' guests includedTony Benn,Ann Widdecombe,Sir John Mortimer andNicholas Parsons; the latter has also recorded his radio showJust a Minute at the Shaw.
In 1985, the theatre played host to stars from the rock and pop world rehearsing for theLive Aid concert. Notably,Queen rehearsed their legendary Live Aid set at the Shaw.[3]
After undergoing refurbishment in 1998, it was reopened by artistic director Mike Redwood in 2001 with an inaugural season including Chekov, Gogol and Snow White the Pantomime. The Shaw Theatre's policy was to present, as a receiving house, high-quality drama from funded regional theatre and independent theatre companies for short to medium length runs and short-term hires. The theatre was also in demand from New York City-basedBroadway andoff-Broadway producers.
The theatre is now part of the four-starPullman London St Pancras hotel[4] operated by the large French hotel chainAccorHotels. It was renamed in honour ofGeorge Bernard Shaw, who lived locally in his later life.
As of 2023, the theatre operates as a hire-only venue, open to both artistic[5] and conference hires.
On 9 March 2018, a fire broke out on stage at the Shaw Theatre. Six fire crews attended with 35 firefighters, and the blaze was brought under control after one hour and fifty minutes.[6] The theatre was repaired, redecorated, and reopened in late 2018.
