The London Coliseum was the brainchild of impresario Oswald Stoll and prolific theatre architect Frank Matcham, with the vision of creating the “people’s palace of entertainment”. Opening on Christmas Eve in 1904, the Coliseum has been used to stage countless events including musicals, operas, ballets, plays and variety shows for more than 100 years. It has been the home of English National Opera and English National Ballet since 1968.
With a seating capacity of 2,359, the London Coliseum houses the largest auditorium in the West End, hosting many spectacular productions on its huge 80ft wide stage. In 2000, a four-year refurbishment began to restore some of the Grade II listed building’s original Edwardian features and improve many of the facilities in the venue.
Alongside staging a varied programme of opera and ballet throughout the year, notable productions to have played at the Coliseum include Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street starring Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson; Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close; and Hairspray starring Michael Ball.
