The theatre was designed by Wimperis Simpson and Guthrie and built by the first manager of the theatre B.A Meyer. The auditorium featured three levels, with enough seating for over 1,200 audience members. Set in the heart of Seven Dials, the location was perfect, and the beautiful art deco building quickly became one of the city's most popular theatrical venues.
The critically acclaimed production of Chekhov's 'Three Sisters' becomes the most commercially successful Chekhov production in West End history. Jonathan Miller directed Janet Suzman in the iconic production, which went on to win the Society of West End Theatre Awards for Best Production and Best Actress.
The first Christmas show at the Cambridge Theatre is Peter Pan starring Glynis Johns
Joan Sims appears in Breath of Spring by Peter Coke.
Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall's impressive play adaptation of 'Billy Liar' opens at the theatre and runs for two years. The play starred Albert Finney, who critics and audiences were at the time hailing as the next Olivier.
The musical comedy 'Half a Sixpence' opens at the Cambridge Theatre primarily as a star vehicle for British singer and personality Tommy Steele. Steele played Arthur Kipps, a young man who falls into good fortune and climbs the social ladder before falling right back down it. David Heneker's score was perfect for the stage, featuring numbers such as 'It the Rain's Got to Fall' and 'Flash Bang Wallop What a Picture'.
Bruce Forsythe stars in the London premiere of Neil Simon's 'Little Me' alongside Avril Angers. The production ran for 334 performances, and was highly praised for its catchy score and its focus on the central performers. CY Coleman provided the music and lyrics, with Simon writing a witty and hilarious book.
The newly formed National Theatre Company, led by Laurence Olivier brings an exciting season to the Cambridge Theatre including two popular plays.
The Black Mikado, an adaptation of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado, opens at the Cambridge Theatre and runs for 472 performances. Braham Murray directs the nearly all-black cast.
The original London production of Chicago the Musical opened at the Cambridge Theatre, following a run on Broadway which was directed by Bob Fosse. The show ran for over 600 performances and was nominated for 'Musical of the Year'. The show starred Jenny Logan as Roxie Hart, Antonia Ellis as Velma Kelly, Don Fellows as Amos Hart and Ben Cross as Billy Flynn. Although the show was never as successful as the revival, the original involved more elaborate staging.
The hit rock and roll musical delights audiences at the Cambridge Theatre, where it went on to win the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The show ran for over 1500 performances, and even made a welcome return to the venue in December 1992. Based on Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' the production was directed by Bob Carlton, with choreography by Carole Todd. The cast included John Ashby, Christian Roberts and Alison Harding.
The first stage production of 'Fame - the Musical' opens at the venue, where it continued to return to the West End throughout the next six years. Largely based on the successful Alan Parker film, the musical was a hit with audiences, but critics weren't so sold. The production at the Cambridge Theatre ran for over a year, and starred talent such as Sonia Swaby as Mabel, Scott Sherrin as Tyrone, Richard Dempsey as Nick and Josefina Gabrielle as Iris. The musical featured direction by Runar Borge and choreography by Lars Berthke.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton's musical about the troubles in Northern Ireland opened and ran for just under a year. The show borrowed themes from 'Romeo and Juliet', using football as a backdrop to play out a dramatic story about the tensions between Protestants and Catholics. Lloyd Webber's score was universally praised, but Elton's lyrics and book were not celebrated. Songs and themes from the show found their way into later works such as 'Love Never Dies', and the whole musical has been re-written as 'The Boys in the Photograph' which premiered in Canada in 2009. The original cast included Hannah Waddingham, Diane Pilkington, Ben Goddard and David Shannon.
The Madness musical 'Our House' opens at the Cambridge Theatre, where it went on to win the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The production was directed by Mathew Warchus and featured choreography by Peter Darling. The show was a jukebox musical set to the songs of Madness, and incorporated a story about teenagers living in London. The show struggled to find an audience despite mixed-to-positive reviews. The original cast starred Michael Jibson, Julia Gay, Lesley Nicol and Ian Reddington.
The controversial opera based on the hit US TV show transferred from the National Theatre, sparking much debate due to its profane language and adult themes. Written and directed by comedian Stewart Lee, the show was a bold choice for the National, under new Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner. Having been developed from various Edinburgh Fringe performances, the West End production won four Olivier Awards including Best Musical, and was filmed for BBC television, causing yet more controversy. The original cast together won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance. David Soul starred as Jerry Springer, alongside David Bedella, Benjamin Lake, Carrie Ellis, Leon Craig and Guy Porritt.
Derren Brown’s Something Wicked This Way Comes runs for a month at the Cambridge Theatre. This is the mentalist’s second stage show.
After playing at the Adelphi Theatre for over 9 years, the now hit musical returned to its original London home at the Cambridge theatre, where it would stay for 5 years. The production was based on the Broadway revival, which featured choreography by Anna Reinking and direction by Walter Bobbie. The show was a hit with tourists, and was kept fresh by a number of celebrity replacements in the cast, including Claire Sweeney, Bonnie Langford, Jerry Springer and Marti Pellow. The show later transferred to the Garrick Theatre.
Chicago holds a gala performance to celebrate a decade in the West End. Performers include include original London cast members, Ute Lemper, Ruthie Henshall and Henry Goodman, along with Brenda Edwards, Jennifer Ellison, Duncan James, Frances Ruffelle, Denise Van Outen.
Kelly Osbourne joins the Chicago cast as Mama Morton, with Clive Rowe returning as Amos Hart. They join existing cast members Josefina Gabrielle (Roxie Hart), Annette McLaughlin (Velma Kelly).
Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley plays Billy Flynn in Chicago for a limited run.
Chicago announces that it is extending its booking period until 27 March 2010.
Chicago has several major cast changes, with Anna Jane Casey (Velma Kelly), Victor McGuire (Amos Hart) and Sue Kelvin (Mama Morton) returning to the show. Suzanne Shaw also joins as 'Roxie Hart’.
Talk show host Jerry Springer makes his West End debut as Billy Flynn in Chicago for a limited 6-week run.
Chicago announces that they are extending their booking period through 30 April 2011.
Ruthie Henshall, the original Roxie Hart from 1997 production of Chicago, returns to the role through 18 April.
Chicago announces it is closing, and Matilda the Musical will open at the Cambridge Theatre later in the year.
David Bedella joins the cast of Chicago as Billy Flynn for 10 weeks.
The RSC's production of 'Matilda the Musical' opens at the Cambridge Theatre after a sell out run in Stratford Upon Avon. It wins the Olivier Award for Best New Musical amongst many others. Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, the show featured a modern score by Tim Minchin, and reunited director Matthew Warchus with choreographer Peter Darling. Bertie Carvel won much critical acclaim in the lead role of Miss Trunchbull, and transferred to Broadway where the show opened in 2013 at the Schubert Theatre.
The RSC announces 4 new children will take over the title role in Matilda. Lucy-Mae Beacock, Hayley Canham, Chloe Hawthorn and Lara Wollington will share the role. New adult members joining the cast include Fabian Aloise, Charles Brunton, Billy Cullum, Joseph Davenport, Lara Denning, Mark Goldthorp, Jack Greaves, Madeleine Harland, Joshua Lay, Lucy Miller and Tommy Sherlock.
Matilda the Musical swipes an impressive seven Olivier Awards at the 2012 ceremony, with the four Matildas: Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingham, Eleanor Worthington Cox and Sophia Kiely all scooping the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Further awards went to Matthew Warchus for Best Director, Peter Darling for Best Choreographer, Bertie Carvel for Best Actor in a Musical, Rob Howell for Best Set Design and Simon Baker for Best Sound Design. Matilda also won the coveted Best New Musical Award.
Matilda wins this year’s Sky Arts Theatre Award.
James Clyde, Lisa Davina Phillip and Joshua Wyatt join the existing cast of Matilda.
Craige Els is to take over the role of Miss Truchbull, joining James Clyde (Mr Wormwood), Haley Flaherty (Miss Honey) and Kay Murphy (Mrs Wormwood) in the cast of Matilda.
Tim Minchin's Matilda celebrates 5 years of success on the West End. Matilda the Musical is now playing across the world, in the US and Australia. One of the current long-runners, Matilda shows no signs of shutting its doors!
Matilda announces a new adult cast, featuring Gina Beck, David Shannon, Tom Edden and Marianne Benedict. They are joining Keisha Amponsa Banson, Richard Astbury, David Birch, Maria Graciano, Karina Hind, Peter Houston, Katie Lee, Vicki Lee Taylor, Kris Manuel, Bryan Mottram, Tom Muggeridge, Emma Robotham-Hunt, Simon Shorten, Biancha Szynal, Callum Train and Robert Tregoning.
The RSC announces a new child cast for Matilda to start on 12 September. Lily-Mae Evans, Kitty Peterkin and Savannah Read will be playing the title role, with Bill Bekele, Joe Butler-Smith, Omar Cain-Francis, Halle Cassell, Lucy Cheesman, Liberty Greig, Lauren Henson, Callum Hudson, Vaidile Jonikas, Mia McLoughlin, Miller Morris, Palmer Newson, Rocco Peacock, Lottie Refet, Finn Richards, Martin Soosaipillai, Will Tarpey and Alex Wenham making up the rest of the youthful newcomers.
Matilda the Musical announces a new online ticket lottery launching on 5 March 2018, with the best seats in the house just £25 for every performance.
The revival production of Grease the Musical transfers from the Dominion Theatre, playing for over 2 years. The production was directed by David Gillimore with choreography by Arlene Phillips. This revival incorporated songs from the movie version, as well as the original stage version to create a brand new book. The show went on to enjoy numerous UK tours.
The theatre stages its first musical, starring Oscar Asche and Ursula Jeans.
