Gielgud Theatre

The Gielgud Theatre opened on 27 Dec. 1906, originally named the Hicks Theatre. Designed by W. G. R. Sprague in the style of Louis XVI, it was built as a pair with the Sondheim Theatre, which opened 10 months later in October 1907. The theatre was decorated with impressive gold leaf work in the auditorium and has a beautiful circular staircase in the foyer, leading up to an oval gallery. These features were all restored in a 1987 refurbishment. The Gielgud was refurbished again in 2008 by Cameron Mackintosh, who reinstalled the boxes at the back of the Dress Circle which had previously been removed in another renovation.