Trafalgar Entertainment has announced the acquisition of the London Theatre Company, including The Bridge Theatre and its King’s Cross venue which houses immersive entertainment business Lightroom.
The deal sees the global live entertainment company take ownership of one of London’s leading producing houses, founded in 2017 by Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr following their tenure at the National Theatre.
The Bridge Theatre, which opened in October 2017, quickly established itself as a major cultural destination and was the first new large-scale theatre to be built in central London at the time.
Trafalgar Entertainment says it will work collaboratively with Hytner and Starr to develop the future of the organisation, expanding its reach and creative ambition.
Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire said: “Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr have made an exceptional contribution to British theatre, first at the National Theatre and then through the creation of the London Theatre Company. They have created and established one of London’s most exciting and distinctive theatres, added a second venue in 2023, and created exceptional productions.”
They added: “We see this as an exciting ‘next chapter’ in that story — an evolution that builds on the extraordinary foundations already in place. The Bridge is a successful and much-loved part of London’s cultural offer, and Lightroom is establishing itself as a major London attraction. Our focus is on maintaining that momentum in both spaces.”
Nicholas Hytner said: “Building the Bridge Theatre and working on its repertoire with a host of extraordinarily talented people has been a thrilling experience. I couldn’t be more admiring of the artists and colleagues who have been responsible for making so many memorable productions and creating a theatre that has quickly become a favourite destination for audiences.”
He continued: “After nine years, it feels like the right time to be moving on, and I’m very happy that its new owners, Trafalgar Entertainment, will be taking it into the future.”
Nick Starr added: “When we began this project, we wanted to build a theatre that felt genuinely contemporary — flexible, ambitious and open to as many people as possible. Since then, The Bridge has become home to an extraordinary range of productions and artists and has shown how adaptable and resilient theatre can be.”
Productions at The Bridge have included Guys & Dolls, Straight Line Crazy and Into The Woods, alongside performances from artists including Maggie Smith, Jonathan Bailey, Ralph Fiennes and Laura Linney.
Upcoming productions will continue as planned, including The Oresteia, which begins performances on 2 July.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
