What Is the Oldest Musical Theatre?

Musical Theatre|Theater

What Is the Oldest Musical Theatre?

The oldest musical theatre in existence is located in London, England and is known as the Drury Lane Theatre. Founded in 1663, the theatre has been home to some of the most famous productions in history, including those by William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and Gilbert & Sullivan.

The theatre was originally built as a private home for Thomas Killigrew, a courtier of King Charles II. However, it was soon converted into a theater and opened to the public in 1663.

The first production was The Cruelty of BARABAS by John Dryden and Sir Robert Howard. Throughout its history, the theatre has housed many notable performances including John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera (1728), Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The School for Scandal (1777) and George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion (1913).

Since its opening over 350 years ago, Drury Lane has seen its share of ups and downs. It has experienced several fires throughout its history and had to be rebuilt on multiple occasions.

In 1812 it was destroyed by fire yet again and rebuilt bigger than ever with seating for over 3,000 people! It saw great success until it closed down during World War I due to lack of funding.

The theatre underwent renovations once again during the 20th century with the help of Andrew Lloyd Webber who helped design the revamped auditorium which opened in 2004 with his production of The Woman in White. Drury Lane has since produced many popular shows such as Evita (2006) and recently Sweeney Todd (2012).

Today the Drury Lane Theatre continues to be one of London’s most beloved theatres where visitors can experience some of the best entertainment available anywhere in the world! With its rich history spanning more than three centuries, it is truly one of London’s oldest and most historically significant theatres.

In conclusion, Drury Lane Theatre is considered to be one of the oldest musical theatres still standing today. It is an iconic landmark that has seen some of history’s greatest performances over three centuries since it first opened its doors in 1663. It continues to host some of the best entertainment available anywhere around the world today!