The Dominion Theatre in London was built in 1929 and was originally intended to be used for stage musicals, but very shortly after it opened they actually began showing movies here.

It is a very large theatre, seating well over 2000 patrons, with a very good central location. These factors helped to make the Dominion Theatre a very popular venue for cinema.

The theatre became closely associated with musicals after it had great success in the 1950s and 1960s with films like "South Pacific" and "The Sound of Music" which both had very long runs at the theatre.

The theatre boasted state of the art screens and sound systems that made it the venue of choice for the big budget Hollywood musical extravaganzas that were so popular during this time.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Dominion Theatre saw a trend back towards live productions, hosting concerts and shows like "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Grease", and "Beauty and the Beast".

The theatre has undergone renovations in recent years, restoring and reclaiming some areas of the building that had been neglected over the years.

One major improvement is The Studio, a large audition and rehearsal area that is one of the best located spaces of its kind in London. This space has been used by a number of top West End shows such as "Les Misérables", "Hairspray", and "Edward Scissorhands".

Since 2002, "We Will Rock You" has been playing at the Dominion Theatre. This stage musical is based on the songs of the rock band Queen, and was written by comedian Ben Elton, and Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor.

The story is set in a future time when music is strictly controlled and anything that does not conform is not allowed, but one girl dares to do something more "Bohemian". The songs of Queen are interwoven through the story in a way similar to ABBA's hit musical "Mamma Mia!".

The Dominion Theatre in London is a large and very special venue for anyone who loves musicals.

Visiting Dominion Theatre

Dominion Theatre, 268 Tottenham Court Road, Bloomsbury, W1T 7AQ

Telephone: 0870 169 0116 (Box Office

Photo courtesy: Dan Bock

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