The Shaftesbury Theatre, the largest independent theatre in the West End, has announced it will be renamed the Judi Dench Theatre in honour of Dame Judi Dench.
The renaming will take place in February 2027 and marks a historic moment for one of London’s most recognisable theatrical venues.
The tribute celebrates Dame Judi’s unparalleled contribution to British theatre and the performing arts, ensuring her legacy continues to inspire future generations.
Dame Judi Dench said, “The Shaftesbury Theatre has always held a special place in my heart. My relationship to the Theatre of Comedy and to the Taffner family goes back many years and to have this beautiful theatre renamed after me is truly overwhelming. Live theatre continues to be so important as a way of telling stories and entertaining audiences, something I have aimed to do all my working life.”
Dame Judi was a founding member of the Theatre of Comedy, a collective that played a key role in sustaining the theatre during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Her long-standing connection with the Taffner family, who own the venue, was further strengthened through her role in As Time Goes By, produced by their company.
Chairman Donald Taffner Jnr. said, “Dame Judi has been a close friend of the DLT family for so long, particularly from her involvement with As Time Goes By, and we will always treasure the time she made in her busy schedule to make the programme. We have such fond memories of Judi at the Shaftesbury from the meetings for the Theatre of Comedy members to when her husband was performing in a number of the Theatre of Comedy productions. Aside from business, my parents would often talk about how much they enjoyed spending time with Judi and Michael in both NY and London. We are therefore delighted to recognise her extraordinary talent and extensive contribution to many in the renaming of our theatre. ”
Chief Executive Eleanor Lang added, “We are so excited to rename the Shaftesbury Theatre in honour of Dame Judi. Not only does she play an important role in our history, but she is an iconic figure of the stage and screen landscape. We don’t celebrate brilliant women enough in our West End theatre names, so we are delighted that her name will be forever in lights above our doorway.”
The Grade II listed venue, built in 1911 as the New Prince’s Theatre, is renowned for its architectural innovations, including being the first steel frame theatre in the West End and the only London theatre with an opening dome.
As part of the renaming, ongoing refurbishment works will continue through to early 2027, including restoration of the auditorium dome, redecoration, recarpeting and improvements to backstage facilities.
The theatre will remain open during the renovations, currently hosting productions including Avenue Q, which is booking until January 2027.
More information can be found here.
