The
Dominion Theatre is a
West End theatreWest End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's "Theatreland". Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking world...
on
Tottenham Court RoadTottenham Court Road is a street in Central London, England, running from St Giles' Circus north to Euston Road, near the border of the City of Westminster and the London Borough of Camden, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile...
close to
St Giles' CircusSt Giles's Circus is the intersection of Oxford Street, New Oxford Street, Charing Cross Road and Tottenham Court Road in the West End of London. The word Circus is arguably a little misleading as the buildings around the traffic intersection are not all rounded, as with for example Oxford Circus...
and
Centre PointCentre Point is a substantial concrete and glass office building in central London, England, occupying 101-103 New Oxford Street, WC1, close to St Giles' Circus and almost directly above Tottenham Court Road tube station. The site was once occupied by a gallows...
Tower, in the
London Borough of CamdenThe London Borough of Camden is a borough of London, England, which forms part of Inner London. The southern reaches of Camden form part of Central London.-History:...
.
History
The Dominion was built in 1928–29, designed by W and TR Milburn with a steel-framed construction and a concave Portland stone facade. It was built as a theatre for live shows but after faltering business in the early 1930s the building was converted to also allow it to show films. The theatre was built on the location of the former Horse Shoe Brewery, which was the site of the 1814
London Beer FloodThe London Beer Flood occurred on October 17, 1814 in the London parish of St. Giles in the United Kingdom. At the Meux and Company Brewery on Tottenham Court Road, a huge vat containing over of beer ruptured, causing other vats in the same building to succumb in a domino effect. As a result, more...
.
Despite its huge seating capacity (given as 2,858 in 1940), the Dominion did well thanks to its excellent location where Charing Cross Road, Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road all meet. The cinema closed temporarily at the height of
the BlitzThe Blitz was the sustained bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, in World War II. While the Blitz hit many towns and cities across the country, it began with the bombing of London for 57 consecutive nights...
early in October 1940, but re-opened for good on 12 January 1941. After the war, it continued the link with the New Victoria, almost invariable playing with the Gaumont circuit programme for a pre-release week before it went into the Northwest London area to commence its suburban run. In December 1956 Rank first considered making regular use of the Dominion for live shows again and had internal estimates of the cost involved for rewiring and refurbishing the stage facilities. The first major use as a live venue came when the
Judy Garland Show ran from Wednesday 16 October to Saturday 16 November 1957. Films continued to be shown at all other times, although the theatre restaurant had closed on 15 June 1957.
The theatre was then selected to show films in the new Todd AO system. Two Phillips 70mm / 35mm projectors were installed in a new projection box at the back of the stalls, providing a 78ft level throw to the screen and an immense 46ft wide screen, with a 5ft deep curvature erected in the 54ft wide proscenium opening. Stereophonic sound was provided and seating came down to 1,654 with the upper gallery being curtained off.
South Pacific inaugurated the new road show policy on 21 April 1958 and racked up the longest ever run of 4 years 22 weeks, closing down on 30 September 1962.
Samuel Goldwyn had patiently waited more than three years to open
Porgy and Bess here but
South Pacific’s success did not rub off on it. Cleopatra was another mammoth attraction that opened here in August 1963 but it was
The Sound of Music (29 March 1965 to 31 June 1968) that confirmed the Dominion’s pull as a home of musicals. However
Star, which followed redecoration on 18 July 1968, proved more successful at the Dominion than anywhere else. However, once Hollywood stopped making the big budget extravaganzas the Dominion was in trouble. Live shows came back between the films and following a two-day revival of MGM’s
The Band Wagon, the Dominion was earmarked for live use only from 8 November 1981, although
The Return of the Jedi opened there in 1983 in a joint première with the
Odeon Leicester SquareThe Odeon Leicester Square is a cinema which occupies the centre of the eastern side of Leicester Square, London, dominating the square with its huge black polished granite facade and high tower displaying its name. Blue neon outlines the exterior of the building at night. It was built to be the...
.
During the 1980s it became a popular venue for music concerts.
Tangerine DreamTangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
's album
Logos was recorded there in 1982, and contains a tune called "Dominion" in tribute. In the mid-1980s the Dominion hosted the musical
TimeTime is a musical with a book and lyrics by Dave Clark and David Soames, music by Jeff Daniels, and additional songs by David Pomeranz....
, and the interior was extensively reconstructed to accommodate the shows effects.
Since the early 1990s the venue has played host to
David IanDavid Ian Lane , is a former actor and now a theatre producer who The Stage has called "the most powerful man in UK theatre".-Biography:...
and
Paul NicholasPaul Nicholas is an English actor and singer who has had considerable success on stage, screen and in the pop charts.-Biography:...
' new production of
GreaseGrease is a 1972 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.The show takes its name from the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class kids as they navigate the complexities of love,...
,
Scrooge: The MusicalScrooge: The Musical is a 1992 stage musical with book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. It was adapted from the 1970 film Scrooge starring Albert Finney...
,
Matthew BourneMatthew Bourne OBE is a British ballet and dance choreographer.-Biography:Bourne was born in Walthamstow, London. In 1982 he enrolled at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance in Deptford, southeast London, where he was awarded a B.A. in Dance Theatre...
's
Swan LakeSwan Lake is a ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, by Vladimir Begichev and Vasiliy Geltser was fashioned from Russian folk tales as well as an ancient German legend, which tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan...
,
DisneyWalt Disney Theatrical Productions, informally known as Walt Disney Theatrical, is the stageplay and musical production arm of The Walt Disney Company...
's
Beauty and the Beast, a return of
Grease, and
Notre Dame de ParisNotre Dame de Paris is a French-Canadian musical which debuted on 16 September 1998 in Paris. It is based upon the novel Notre Dame de Paris by the French novelist Victor Hugo...
among others.
Bernadette The Musical, written by Maureen and Gwyn Hughes, also enjoyed a short run in 1990.
In the 1990s the Dominion also hosted the
Royal Variety PerformanceFor a general description of performances for the monarch, see Royal Command Performance.The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen...
on a number of occasions.
It now has a
seating capacitySeating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, either in terms of the physical space available, or in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that...
of 2,182 in two tiers of galleries, following the closure many decades ago of the former upper circle. The theatre retains its 1920s light fittings and art deco plasterwork.
There has been a lot of renovation of the theatre over the past couple of years. The large dressing room block at the rear of the theatre has its stone work cleaned and new exact replica windows fitted. Inside the building has also seen many changes with the reinstatement of the once derelict area originally occupied by the theatre's restaurant/tea rooms and which was utilised by Rank in its time at the Dominion as office space. This large space above the main foyer is now a state of the art rehearsal studio and events space. The entrance way to the Studio has had its original plasterwork carefully restored (a project which is soon to move on to the impressive main foyer). This new space is called 'The Studio' and has already housed the auditions or rehearsals of a number of the West End's top shows including
We Will Rock You"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004...
, Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands,
Les MiserablesLes Misérables is a novel by French author Victor Hugo and is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century...
, Cats, National Tour,
HairsprayHairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues...
and
ZorroZorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by pulp writer Johnston McCulley. He has been featured in several books, films, television series, and other media....
, making it the best located rehearsal studio in London.
In 2002, the hit stage musical
We Will Rock YouWe Will Rock You is a jukebox musical, based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name. The musical was written by English comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor...
, based on the songs of
QueenQueen were an English rock band. Formed in London in 1970 following the demise of the band Smile, Queen consisted of vocalist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor. The band became popular with audiences via their hit songs, live performances,...
, created by Queen guitarist
Brian MayBrian Harold May, CBE, is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen. As a guitarist he uses his home built guitar, "Red Special", and has composed hits such as "Tie Your Mother Down", "We Will Rock You", "Who Wants to Live Forever",...
and drummer
Roger TaylorRoger Taylor is an English musician best known as the percussionist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of the most influential rock drummers of the 1970s and 1980s...
together with British
comedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain members of an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Ben EltonBenjamin Charles "Ben" Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright and director. He was a leading figure in the alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, while more recently he has become known for his work as a novelist.-Personal life:...
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. The show is currently in its eighth year and as such is the longest running musical ever to play at the Dominion Theatre.
On Sundays,
Hillsong LondonHillsong Church London is a Pentecostal Christian church, affiliated with the Assemblies of God and is the London-based offshoot of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia...
holds three (or more) church services throughout the day there.
Ownership
The Dominion has had a variety of owners during its history. It has been operated by The
Rank OrganisationThe Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. Its film division once distributed Universal Pictures releases in the UK...
and Apollo Leisure from 1988 to 1999. In 1999 Apollo Leisure was taken over by SFX Entertainment and in 2001 SFX Entertainment was bought by Clear Channel Entertainment, part of the US based multinational. It is now run by
Live Nation UKLive Nation UK is the United Kingdom subsidiary of Live Nation International, formerly the entertainment division of Clear Channel, a major US media conglomerate but now a separate and independent corporation worldwide. As Clear Channel UK, Live Nation UK acquired the Mean Fiddler organisation,...
- ClearChannel's entertainments spin-off organisation, on behalf of the
Nederlander OrganizationThe Nederlander Organization, founded in 1912 by David T. Nederlander and based in Detroit, Michigan, is one of the largest operators of live theatre and music in the United States...
.
Recent and present productions
- Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason is an American stand-up comedian.-Early life:Born Yacov Moshe Maza in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he grew up in New York City on the Lower East Side of Manhattan....
: Brand New! (22 March 1993 - 24 March 1993) by Jackie MasonJackie Mason is an American stand-up comedian.-Early life:Born Yacov Moshe Maza in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he grew up in New York City on the Lower East Side of Manhattan....
- Grease
Grease is a 1972 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.The show takes its name from the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class kids as they navigate the complexities of love,...
(15 July 1993 - 19 October 1996) by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
- Scrooge (12 November 1996 - 1 February 1997) by Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse is a British lyricist and composer.Although best known for his partnership with Anthony Newley, Bricusse has worked with many other composers. Whilst at Cambridge University, he was Secretary of Footlights between 1952 and 1953 and Footlights President during the following year. He...
- Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton, based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name. Seven new songs were written for the stage musical...
(13 May 1997 - 11 December 1999) by Howard AshmanHoward Ashman was an American playwright and movie music lyricist. Ashman first studied at Boston University and Goddard College and then went on to achieve his master's degree from Indiana University in 1974...
, Alan MenkenAlan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist. Menken has collaborated with lyricists including Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz...
, Tim RiceSir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice is an English Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, author, radio personality and television gameshow panellist....
and Linda Woolverton
- Matthew Bourne
Matthew Bourne OBE is a British ballet and dance choreographer.-Biography:Bourne was born in Walthamstow, London. In 1982 he enrolled at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance in Deptford, southeast London, where he was awarded a B.A. in Dance Theatre...
's Swan Lake (7 February 2000 - 11 March 2000) by Matthew BourneMatthew Bourne OBE is a British ballet and dance choreographer.-Biography:Bourne was born in Walthamstow, London. In 1982 he enrolled at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance in Deptford, southeast London, where he was awarded a B.A. in Dance Theatre...
- Tango Passion (21 March 2000 - 23 March 2000) by Hector Zaraspe
- Notre-Dame de Paris (23 May 2000 - 6 October 2001) by Richard Cocciante and Luc Plamondon
Luc Plamondon, OC, CQ is a French-Canadian lyricist.-Life:Plamondon has written for many artists, notably the Québécois singers Bruno Pelletier, Diane Dufresne, Robert Charlebois, Céline Dion, Ginette Reno, Fabienne Thibeault, Martine St. Clair, and Garou, as well as the French singers Julien...
- Grease
Grease is a 1972 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.The show takes its name from the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class kids as they navigate the complexities of love,...
(22 October 2001 - 3 November 2001) by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
- We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical, based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name. The musical was written by English comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor...
(14 May 2002 - ) by QueenQueen were an English rock band. Formed in London in 1970 following the demise of the band Smile, Queen consisted of vocalist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor. The band became popular with audiences via their hit songs, live performances,...
and Ben EltonBenjamin Charles "Ben" Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright and director. He was a leading figure in the alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, while more recently he has become known for his work as a novelist.-Personal life:...
The nearest
London Underground station is
Tottenham Court RoadTottenham Court Road is a station on the London Underground, serving as an interchange between the Central line and the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line....
.
External links