Victoria Palace Theatre

The Victoria Palace Theatre on Victoria Street in London's Westminster district, opened on 6 November 1911 to designs by architect Frank Matcham, is one of the most splendid Edwardian theatres in London and has been the permanent home since November 2017 of Lin-Manuel Miranda's global success Hamilton — An American Musical. Built on the site of a former music hall, the Royal Standard Music Hall (1832), the venue initially presented music hall bills, then operettas, revues, and film. Atop the original building stood a gilded statue of "Pavlova" — named for the Russian prima ballerina Anna Pavlova — until 1939. Frank Matcham's auditorium ranks among his masterpieces alongside the London Coliseum and Buxton Opera House. The oval form, richly decorated dress circle, and stucco angels above the proscenium make the house one of the visually most striking Edwardian theatres in London. With 1,550 seats across three levels, it is among the larger West End houses. A comprehensive refurbishment in 2014–17 costing some 30 million pounds, undertaken specifically for the Hamilton production, modernised stage technology, climate control, and backstage areas while fully preserving the historic décor. Before Hamilton, long runs here included Me and My Girl (1985–93), Buddy — The Buddy Holly Story (1995–2003), and Billy Elliot the Musical (2005–16, over eleven years). The house belongs to impresario Cameron Mackintosh's Delfont Mackintosh Theatres Group, one of the most influential theatre companies in London.