5 Things You Didn’t Know About London’s Iconic Theatres

Every year we celebrate World Theatre Day, and this year we thought it would be fun to delve a little bit into the history of some of London’s most iconic theatres and find some interesting facts to celebrate.

Here are our Ballet Fusion top five:

The Globe Theatre

Did you know that The Globe Theatre is the only building in London allowed to have a thatched roof? Ever since The Great Fire of London in 1666 thatched roofs have been banned in the city for obvious reasons!

The Savoy Theatre

Did you know that The Savoy Theatre was the first public building in the whole world to be lit throughout by electricity? Fancy that! Before electricity theatres were lit by candle light.

The Theatre Royal, Haymarket

Did you know that The Theatre Royal was the first London theatre to introduce a matinée performance to its scheduling back in 1873? We love a matinée because you can be back home in time to take a Ballet Fusion evening class!

The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Did you know that The Theatre Royal on Drury Lane is supposedly haunted by a myriad of friendly ghosts? They all seem to cast good luck on the performers from “ The Man In Grey” to the ghost of Joseph Grimaldi who was an English actor, comedian and dancer who guides nervous actors around the stage to bring them confidence and a good performance.

Covent Garden Theatres

Did you know that Covent Garden is home to a substantial amount of London’s theatres including the beautiful Royal Opera House, a Ballet Fusion favourite? Now a centre for dance and theatre productions, this bustling area was once tranquil and calm. The name Covent Garden comes from the 13th century when it was a peaceful covent (an Anglo Saxon name for monastery) garden. Where dancers jump and turn, fruit trees and arable land once stood.