The Other Palace

The Other Palace
The building in 2012, as St James Theatre
Map
AddressPalace Street
London, SW1
United Kingdom
Coordinates51°29′55″N 0°08′27″W / 51.49857°N 0.14091°W / 51.49857; -0.14091
Public transitLondon Underground National Rail Victoria
OperatorBill Kenwright
TypeOff West End theatre
CapacityMain stage: 312
Studio theatre: 120
Construction
Opened18 September 2012; 12 years ago (2012-09-18)
ArchitectFoster Wilson Architects
Website
www.theotherpalace.co.uk

The Other Palace is a theatre in London's Off West End which opened on 18 September 2012 as the St. James Theatre.[1] It features a 312-seat main theatre and a 120-seat studio theatre.[2] It was built on the site of the former Westminster Theatre, which was damaged by a fire in 2002 and subsequently demolished.[3] It was owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatres Group from 2016 to 2021, which gave it its current name.[4]

Described as "the first newly built theatre complex in central London for 30 years",[2] the building was designed by Foster Wilson Architects.[5] The theatre began its debut season in September 2012 with the London premiere of Sandi Toksvig's Bully Boy.[1]

After its acquisition by Really Useful Theatres Group, Paul Taylor Mills was appointed as the new artistic director, with a programme intended to develop new musicals. The name change became official in February 2017.[4] In June 2018, Chris Harper stepped into the role of Director of Programming.

In May 2021, Lloyd Webber announced he was putting the theatre up for sale, calling the decision "heart-wrenching" and adding that he hoped "the future owners will love it as much as I have."[6]

In October 2021, it was announced the theatre had been sold to Bill Kenwright.[7] Kenwright had previously produced musicals including Heathers and Be More Chill at The Other Palace.[7]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference BBC_18Sep2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference StJAboutUs_19Dec2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference TheStage_06May2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference rename was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Foster_Project_Page was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Andrew Lloyd Webber to sell The Other Palace". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b Hemley, Matthew (28 October 2021). "Bill Kenwright buys the Other Palace from Lloyd Webber". The Stage. Retrieved 17 April 2022.