The Gielgud Theatre has three seating levels: Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Circle. With just under 1,000 seats, it’s one of the bigger houses on Shaftesbury Avenue.
The Stalls are on the ground floor and give you the closest view of the stage. Central rows offer the most immersive experience of the show.
The Dress Circle sits above the Stalls and offers a lovely, well-raked view over the whole stage, making it a popular choice for a great mix of value and sightlines.
The Grand Circle is the top tier and the most budget-friendly option. Front rows here still give a good overview of the stage.
The Gielgud Theatre sits on Shaftesbury Avenue, at the corner of Rupert Street, right in the heart of Theatreland. The nearest tube stations are Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, both just a short walk away.
The Gielgud Theatre opened on 27th December 1906 as the Hicks Theatre, designed by W. G. R. Sprague in an elegant Louis XVI style. It was renamed the Globe Theatre in 1909 and kept that name for 85 years, before being renamed again in 1994 in honour of the actor John Gielgud, partly to avoid confusion with the newly reconstructed Shakespeare’s Globe.
Over the years it’s hosted long runs including Daisy Pulls It Off (1983-1986), and more recently Equus with Daniel Radcliffe (2007), Company (2018) and To Kill A Mockingbird. It’s owned and operated by Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, who took control of the venue in 2006.
The Gielgud Theatre has a capacity of 994 across its three levels: Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Circle.
The Gielgud Theatre is owned and operated by Delfont Mackintosh Theatres.
It opened on 27th December 1906 as the Hicks Theatre, later becoming the Globe Theatre and then the Gielgud Theatre in 1994.
It was renamed in 1994 in honour of the actor John Gielgud, and to avoid confusion with the reconstructed Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, which had opened nearby.
Lionel Bart’s Oliver! is currently playing at the Gielgud, booking through to March 2027.
It’s worth contacting the box office or checking Delfont Mackintosh Theatres’ access page ahead of your visit to check accessibility and arrange the right seating.
The Grand Circle is around 30 steps up from the main foyer, and the theatre itself doesn’t recommend it for anyone with limited mobility – it’s a proper Edwardian-era climb with no lift. The Dress Circle, by contrast, is described as the most accessible level in the building, so it’s a good compromise if you want to be up rather than in the Stalls but would rather avoid the Grand Circle’s stairs and height. Do call ahead if you’re not sure which level will suit you.
Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square are both close by and an easy walk from the theatre.
Central Stalls and the front of the Dress Circle both give excellent views. The Grand Circle is a good budget-friendly option too.
You can book tickets for Oliver! directly through Delfont Mackintosh Theatres’ official website. I’d always recommend booking through the theatre’s own site or a trusted official retailer to avoid inflated resale prices.
