Dominion Theatre

Dominion Theatre
Dominion Theatre in 2017 after restoration, with the double-sided LED screen advertising An American in Paris
Map
Address268–269 Tottenham Court Road
London,
United Kingdom
Coordinates51°31′00″N 0°07′49″W / 51.516556°N 0.130139°W / 51.516556; -0.130139
Public transitLondon Underground Tottenham Court Road
OwnerNederlander Organization
DesignationGrade II listed
TypeWest End theatre
Capacity2,163 on 2 levels
2,074 (for WWRY)
Construction
Opened3 October 1929; 95 years ago (1929-10-03)
ArchitectW & TR Milburn
Tenants
Hillsong Church (Sundays, 2005-present)
Website
www.nederlander.co.uk/dominion-theatre
Interior of the theatre in 2010, stage to the right

The Dominion Theatre is a West End theatre and former cinema on Tottenham Court Road, close to St Giles Circus and Centre Point, in the London Borough of Camden. Planned as primarily a musical theatre, it opened in 1929, but the following year became a cinema—it hosted the London premiere of Charlie Chaplin's City Lights with Chaplin in attendance—and in 1933 after liquidation of the controlling company was sold to Gaumont cinema chain, which later became part of the Rank Organisation. It was a major premiere cinema until the 1970s, when it began to host live concerts.

In January 1981 it once more became primarily a live performance venue, and has since hosted many musicals, notably We Will Rock You which ran from 2002 to 2014. It also hosted the Royal Variety Performance seven times in the 1990s and early 2000s. It became a listed building in 1988 and after being saved from redevelopment, was sold to Apollo Leisure Group and subsequently to the Nederlander Organization. In the 21st century it has been extensively refurbished and renovated, including reclaiming spaces that had been turned into offices.

On Sundays Hillsong Church London holds services in the theatre.