Duchess Theatre

With only 479 seats and four levels, the Duchess Theatre is one of the most intimate venues in theatreland. Located very near Aldwych, it opened in1929, and the interior was designed by Mary Wyndham Lewis, wife of the playright J.B. Priestley; the décor hasn’t really changed since its inception in 1934. There is one bar on the premises, however it’s a tight squeeze as it only has a capacity of 50 people (standing). The stalls are built below street level, due to the small size of the venue.

Some of the more famous plays that have shown here include ‘Alfie’, ‘Oh Calcutta’ and Harold Pinter’s ‘The Caretaker’, with famed actors such as Diana Dors, Maureen Lipman and David Suchet having graced the stage. Ticket prices range roughly between £20 and £60 depending on seats and whether it’s a week day or weekend.