London’s Shaftesbury Theatre will be renamed the Judi Dench Theatre early next year in honour of the much-loved actress.
Celebrating Dame Judi Dench’s contribution to British theatre and the performing arts, the West End’s largest independent theatre will be officially renamed in February 2027.
Dench’s strong links to the theatre trace back to her role as a founding member of the Theatre of Comedy – a collective of actors and authors who had part shares in the theatre. Led by distinguished playwright Ray Cooney, the Theatre of Comedy company helped ensure the continuance of the theatre in the 1980s and early 1990s. Her role in the hit TV series As Time Goes By, also cemented her links to the owners of the theatre – the Taffner family, whose company produced the show.
Commenting on the name change, Dench said: “The Shaftesbury Theatre has always held a special place in my heart. My relationship to the Theatre of Comedy and to the Taffner family goes back many years and to have this beautiful theatre renamed after me is truly overwhelming. Live theatre continues to be so important as a way of telling stories and entertaining audiences, something I have aimed to do all my working life.”
Chairman Donald Taffner Jnr said: “Dame Judi has been a close friend of the DLT family for so long, particularly from her involvement with As Time Goes By, and we will always treasure the time she made in her busy schedule to make the programme. We have such fond memories of Judi at the Shaftesbury from the meetings for the Theatre of Comedy members to when her husband [Michael Williams] was performing in a number of the Theatre of Comedy productions. Aside from business, my parents would often talk about how much they enjoyed spending time with Judi and Michael in both NY and London. We are therefore delighted to recognise her extraordinary talent and extensive contribution to many in the renaming of our theatre. ”
Chief Executive Eleanor Lang added: “We are so excited to rename the Shaftesbury Theatre in honour of Dame Judi. Not only does she play an important role in our history, but she is an iconic figure of the stage and screen landscape. We don’t celebrate brilliant women enough in our West End theatre names, so we are delighted that her name will be forever in lights above our doorway.”
Built in 1911 and originally named the New Prince’s Theatre, the Grade II listed building was the first steel frame theatre in the West End and is the only London theatre with a dome which opens.
In 1962 the theatre was renamed the Shaftesbury Theatre after the original Shaftesbury Theatre (which was located further along Shaftesbury Avenue) which had been destroyed in the Blitz.
The current refurbishment programme is due to continue into early 2027. This next phrase of the renovation will include: restoration of the dome in the auditorium where a specially commissioned painting will take inspiration from the original, the renewal of some of the decorative designs alongside the next phase of auditorium redecoration and recarpeting. This period will also see other improvement works in the theatre including enhancing backstage areas.
The theatre remains open during this period performing to two levels while the work is carried out. The theatre’s current show, Avenue Q is booking until 3 January 2027. Recent productions include & Juliet, Mrs Doubtfire and Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical.
Shaftesbury Theatre is owned by DLT Entertainment.
Angela Thomas
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