About Savoy Theatre
This theatre became known as the home of Gilbert and Sullivan works, which also became known as Savoy operas. This is one of the few London theatres to still have a box at the back of the circle, a place which Winston Churchill preferred to be to view the productions.
After the popularity of Gilbert and Sullivan began to diminish somewhat, such names as John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier and Noel Coward became popular here.
Built in 1881, the Savoy Theatre came into existence. Eight years later, the Savoy Hotel joined the theatre. The place where the Savoy Hotel and Savoy Theatre come together is the only street in all of Britain where traffic is required by law to drive on the right side of the road instead of the left. The purpose of this law was to allow guests of the theatre to be let out straight into the theatre.
Another distinction of the Savoy Theatre is that it was the first building in the world to be lit entirely by electricity.
A tragic fire gutted the Savoy Theatre in 1990 although no damage was done to the hotel next door. The theatre was reconstructed within three years.
Although the popularity of Gilbert and Sullivan dimmed somewhat, their operettas are making a comeback here at the Savoy. Now 1158 seats are available to the people who come to see the latest productions.