The Sondheim theatre originally opened as 'The Queen's Theatre' in 1907 withThe Sugar Bowl, a comedy by Madeleine Lucette Ryley.
In September 1940, The Sondheim theatre was hit by a German bomb, destroying the facade and lobby areas, and remained closed for nearly 20 years after. The reconstructed theatre opened in 1959 with John Gielgud's solo performance in Shakespeare speeches and sonnets, Ages of Man.
Since the reconstruction, the theatre has become renowned for its architecture, with unique aspects including statues positioned above the audience. The Sondheim theatre is now known for its longest running musical, Les Misérables, which overtook Cats as the longest-running musical of all time in 2006.
Booking until March 2025
Set in 19th century France, amid a society rife with social and political struggles, West End favourite Les Misérables tells the story of former prisoner Jean Valjean, who is pursued for decades by his policeman nemesis, Javert. Their epic cat-and-mouse journey takes them from the French fields to sewers of Paris, amidst a captivating story of passion, broken dreams, unrequited love, and redemption.
