Shubert Organization and Trafalgar Entertainment Announce Joint Ownership of London’s Olympia Theatre
The partnership marks the first time in 100 years that The Shubert
Organization has directly partnered and
invested in London theatres.
Howard Panter and Robert E. Wankel
Danny Kaan
The Shubert Organization and Trafalgar Entertainment have announced a 50/50 joint venture partnership for the
ownership and operation of the new flagship 1,575-seat Olympia Theatre.
The partnership marks the first time in 100 years that The Shubert
Organization—owner of 17 Broadway theatres—has directly partnered and
invested in London theatres.
The
theatre, which is currently under a 70-year lease with Trafalgar
Entertainment, is due to welcome audiences beginning in 2027. The largest
new theatre of this scale to open in London since The National in 1976, the theatre is part of the £1.3 billion redevelopment
of Olympia, a 140-year-old exhibition complex, into a cultural and entertainment destination for London.
The
stage of the new theatre will be able to accommodate the most
ambitious theatrical productions, while a wrap-around auditorium
will offer intimate audience experiences.
Designing the
venue without the spatial and land-marking restraints of traditional West
End theatres will allow spaces that cater
to the needs of contemporary audiences, including
high-speed elevators and multiple entry points for easy access, generous bar
space at every level, four exclusive premium lounges, and private
seating boxes. Other welcome news for audiences include expanded auditorium seating with more legroom
between rows as well as toilets available at every level (80-plus toilets in total).
Shubert Organization Chairman and CEO Robert
E. Wankel said in a statement, “This is
an extraordinary opportunity for Shubert to be part of shaping the
future of London’s cultural landscape.”
Shubert Organization President Jeff Daniel added, “Theatre-making
is an increasingly global endeavor, and the connection between Broadway
and London has never been stronger. Our investment in the Olympia
Theatre reflects Shubert’s deep commitment to world-class storytelling,
wherever it takes place.”
Howard
Panter, joint CEO and creative director of Trafalgar Entertainment, stated, “For Trafalgar Entertainment to have such an important company as
the Shubert Organization with us operating the exceptional new Olympia
Theatre, creates an appropriately global and exciting partnership.”
Lloyd Lee, co-founder and managing partner of Yoo Capital, part of the ownership group behind Olympia, said, “Olympia
is deeply honored to be the home of this landmark moment in theatre
history. Our vision has always been to establish Olympia as a global
destination for creativity, live performance and innovation; a flagship
where leading international and British brands, businesses, and artists
can showcase their very best to the world.”
The theatre has been designed by a team headed by the award-winning architectural studio Haworth
Tompkins. Other
members of the theatre design team include Avison Young (project
management), Charcoal Blue (theatre consultancy and acoustics), Buro
Happold (mechanical and electrical consultancy), Robert Bird Group
(structural engineering), and AECOM (cost consultancy).
The theatre is
currently being fitted by building contractors Make One London. The wider development has been designed by London-based Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC architects.
The Shubert Organization is
America’s oldest professional theatre company and the largest theatre
owner on Broadway. Having produced hundreds and hundreds of plays and musicals
throughout the last century, the Shubert Organization has remained dedicated to sustaining and
advancing live performing arts.
Olympia Theatre will become Trafalgar Entertainment’s 21st venue across London, the U.K., and Australia.
Once
completed, the transformed Olympia entertainment complex will also boast exhibition and
conferencing spaces for up to 20,000 people, a 4,000-capacity live music
venue (operated by AEG Presents), hotels, offices, a co-educational
senior school featuring a state-of-the-art community theatre hospitality
and restaurant spaces, as well as the Olympia Theatre.
For more information visit Olympia.London.
Olympia Theatre – construction of auditorium
Fred Howarth
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source playbill.com ’
