The Other Palace
Venue Information
- How to book (Phone)
- 0207 592 0302
- [email protected]
- Guide dogs
- Main house: Seats recommended for those with assistance dogs are the aisle seats either end of row G. Main house & Studio: Please note that assistance dogs must remain with their owner at all times, and should any dog react to sudden loud noises/flashing lights etc within the performance, thus distracting from the show for other members of the audience, they will be asked to leave.
- Wheelchairs
- Main house: Our non-transferring wheelchair spaces are in seats N18-23. We can accommodate three wheelchair users with no companion, or two wheelchair users with one companion each. We do advise that if you are attending with more than one companion that other members of the party sit directly in front in row M. Studio: The studio has three levels, the studio floor, the gallery and the upper gallery. Both the studio floor and the upper gallery can be accessed via lift for step free entry. If you are a wheelchair user seated on the studio floor then a space will be made for you. The upper gallery is often held for non-transferring wheelchair users so please contact the box office if you require step free access and they can advise.
- Sound amplification
- Main house: An Infra-Red audio enhancement system is available for deaf or hearing-impaired patrons in the Theatre. Please book seats in Row C to Row N to use this service. Headsets and hearing aid loops are available and should be requested from a member of Front of House staff upon arrival. Studio: There is no hearing loop system in the studio so please contact the box office should you require reserved front seats for lip reading.
- Bars
- The Other Gin Palace bar.
- Food
- Restaurant.
- Toilets
- We have a wheelchair accessible toilet on street level, and a ramp upon entry to the theatre (width of 1.52m).
- Air conditioning
- Yes
- Accepts Theatre Tokens
- No
The Other Palace has an extraordinary history dating back to 1766 when it began life as the Charlotte Chapel. By 1924 the chapel had fallen into disrepair and was converted into a cinema called the St. James’ Picture Theatre. In 1931 the cinema reopened as the Westminster Theatre, with the chapel’s crypt becoming dressing rooms, green room and stalls bar.
The theatre fell dark in 1990 and after a long campaign to save it from demolition, it was destroyed by a fire in 2002. Following the loss of the theatre, the Theatres Trust and Save London’s Theatres campaign fought continuously to reinstate a theatre on site. In 2009 Westminster council granted planning permission for a theatre to be built.
In 2012 the current theatre opened as St. James Theatre, featuring a 312-seat main theatre and a 120-seat studio theatre. The prominent artistic and social destination offered a varied programme of drama, musical theatre, cabaret and jazz.
St. James Theatre was acquired by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s LW Theatres in 2016. After closing its doors in January 2017 for refurbishment, the theatre reopened in Feb 2017 as The Other Palace, the home of musical theatre.
In October 2021 The Other Palace was acquired by Bill Kenwright Ltd one of the largest commercial theatre producers in the UK. In addition to producing Touring, West and Broadway productions, Bill Kenwright Ltd also operates Theatre Royal Windsor – the only unsubsidised regional producing theatre in the UK – that operates all year round.