The Harold Pinter Theatre was designed by Thomas Verity and first opened in 1881 as the Royal Comedy Theatre, staging many comic operas and light comedies. From 1884 it was known simply as the Comedy Theatre up until 2011 when it was re-named in honour of influential 20th Century British playwright, Harold Pinter. It was Grade II listed by English Heritage in 1972.
During the 20th Century, the Comedy Theatre hosted many important works such as Arthur Miller’s A View From the Bridge and Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. This was at a time when strict theatre censorship was still in place, so a private club called the New Watergate Club was created at the theatre in order to stage these plays.
The Harold Pinter Theatre is now renowned for important works of drama and comedy. Recent notable productions include Alan Ayckbourn’s A Chorus of Disapproval starring Rob Brydon and Ashley Jensen, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? starring Imelda Staunton and Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya starring Toby Jones and Richard Armitage. In 2018-19 the theatre hosted its Pinter at the Pinter season, with many lauded actors appearing in an extensive series of Pinter plays.
