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.
Where Would You Like To Start? 'It confuses me, sometimes. I just wanna be and say and do without having to go in the maze where people wave madly at each other and smile, while following their own secret routes.' Frances and Jonah are the happiest they've ever been. With...
Kristin Scott Thomas and Stephen Mangan lead a starry cast in a play that can't quite locate the fragile centre of the swirl of relationships in rural Russia…
It's impressive to have the same work showing at two companies simultaneously, and such is the case for Kenneth MacMillan’s 1974 full-evening work Manon. The ballet is currently in season at the Paris Opera and also opened last night at the Royal Ballet and Opera. Leading the cast are Francesca Ha…
Doktor Arendt's ideas have never been more needed here than they are right now…
Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody is simply hilarious. Dylan Marcaurele writes an abridged 75-minute run-through of the show where original songs coexist with referential numbers, creating an endlessly amusing and entertaining mix. The lyrics are so comically unpredictable that the pi…
Rollicking physical comedy love story – including mime, music, dance and puppets – performed by three young talented performers with great comic timing.…
Extraordinary spectacle delivers in Murakami adaptation that doesn't quite land…
The Royal Ballet season opens on the main stage with a special programme: A Centenary Celebration. 100 years ago Ninette de Valois founded The Academy of Choreographic Art, and the rest is history. What followed was The Royal Ballet School and two companies. So sitting in the Royal Ballet and Opera …
Set in New York's East Village, Rent follows a group of young artists, musicians and friends, navigating love, ambition and creativity while trying to build lives on their own terms. Inspired by Puccini's La Bohème, this iconic musical captures the joy, uncertainty and resilience of a generation …
Intimate venue gets high production values to deliver a marvellous show…
Awe-inspiring revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Into the Woods running until 9 January, 2027.…
