Drayton Arms Theatre

About the Theatre

The Drayton Arms was originally built in 1860 and then rebuilt to its current design in 1891. Originally a function room the first theatrical use of the space was just after the war as a rehearsal room for many of the actors from the newly formed BBC TV who lived locally. In 1985 The upstairs room at the Drayton Arms was then being used as a rehearsal studio for Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Hilary Wood had recently been appointed head of acting and at her suggestion it was decided to turn the space into a theatre to give the students their own performance space in central London. In the autumn of that year the studio was converted into a theatre with the space being designed by Hilary and Newton Jones the technical director of the Academy. The Drayton Studio - as it was then - continued in use for the next twenty years, with twelve public performances running each year. Many of the students who presented their work there have gone on to real achievement in Theatre, Film and Television. The Theatre was used as a rehearsal space on and off for a few years with couple of public performances for charity in 2009. In late 2010 it was decided to get the theatre back up and running on a more permanent basis. Work was undertaken to upgrade the space and then in April 2011 the theatre licence was granted and the Drayton Arms Theatre was reopened as a professional fringe venue. From Shakespeare to new plays, musicals to improv, classics to comedy, we are always showing something new.

The Investment of a Lifetime

10 Nov – 14 Nov 2026

"Every asset must be profitable, even a child". Euthanasiah has just been legalised for terminal mental illness. The nation is facing unprecedented economic uncertainty. And the Evans family are close to ruin. When desperation hits, they must consider where they’re investing...

Articles

Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Hope Mill Theatre

by Gary Naylor · October 8, 2026

Intimate venue gets high production values to deliver a marvellous show…

Review: THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, Richmond Theatre

by Cindy Marcolina · October 9, 2026

Shirley Jackson’s 1959 gothic novel skyrocketed back to recognition in 2018 when it inspired Mike Flanagan’s Netflix sensation of the same name. It’s time for theatre to get its share now, with Stef Smith (of Nora: A Doll’s House fame) adapting Jackson’s original material into a ghostly ex…

Review: THE ANASTASIA FILE, Salisbury Playhouse

by Cheryl Markosky · October 7, 2026

Jenny Seagrove reprises her role as a woman claiming to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia, daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, in a touring production.…

Review: THE BROWN SUITE, Richmond Theatre

by Aliya Al-Hassan · October 3, 2026

It's not often that Richmond Theatre plays host to a world premiere: Blacbrik's Nahum McLean and Darius Drooh's first long-form dance production The Brown Suite makes a stylish splash before embarking on a nationwide tour.…

Review: MURDER BEFORE EVENSONG, Watermill Theatre

by Mica Blackwell · September 30, 2026

If you're in the mood for a cosy crime play in a cosy theatre this autumn, Murder Before Evensong will more than suffice. With plenty fans of the book will appreciate and enough newcomers will enjoy, you'll be in for a night of humour and intrigue.…

Review: FENCES, Leeds Playhouse

by Gary Naylor · September 18, 2026

Roy Fearon leads a magniificent cast in Daniel Bailey's epic production…

Review: TRISTAN & YSEULT, Theatre Royal Bath

by Cheryl Markosky · September 18, 2026

The revival of Emma Rice's exhilarating Tristan & Yseult, with comedy, music, dance, acrobatics and love goes right to the heart.…

Review: THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, Salisbury Playhouse

by Cheryl Markosky · September 17, 2026

What did our critic think of THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE at Salisbury Playhouse?…

Review: THE ARCHERS: LIVE AT 75, New Wimbledon Theatre

by Cheryl Markosky · September 4, 2026

What did our critic think of THE ARCHERS: LIVE AT 75, NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE at New Wimbledon Theatre?…

Book Review: SEETHING LANE, by Jack Jewers, Moonflower Books

by Louise Penn · September 2, 2026

Jewers returns to Samuel Pepys as a subject of fiction following his debut novel, The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys (2022). At the start of Seething Lane, Pepys is again looking for signs of corruption in and outside of the Court, but when violent death raises its head, he realises it is folly to t…

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18 Jun – 22 Jun 2019

Old hands, I thought, they must have touched a lot of girls. Or maybe just one for 40 years, and now me. It made me feel strange so I just held his hand and tried not to think at allWhen Liv discovers an alternative way to get by at university, it feels like shes hit the...