Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International (DFI) – developers of the £1.3 billion regeneration of Olympia as a world-leading cultural destination – announce a major agreement with premium international live entertainment business, Trafalgar Entertainment, to run the site’s new 1,575-seat theatre. The theatre will be the largest new permanent theatre build of its kind to open in London since the National Theatre in 1976.
The Olympia theatre agreement is part of a broader ambition by Trafalgar Entertainment to create a venue of national stature as the UK emerges into a new era. Like its neighbour, the Royal Albert Hall, it is set to become an iconic venue for the 21st century. Trafalgar has long recognised the transformational power of culture in making great places, with the nation’s flagship venues an integral part of the new vibrancy and civic self-confidence of towns and cities.
The Olympia venue breaks new ground in theatre design with a stunning, state-of-the-art 1,575 seat auditorium at its heart, designed by award-winning theatre architects, Haworth Tompkins. Informed by Trafalgar Entertainment’s unique experience of theatre operation and the complex demands of modern productions, the theatre offers the very latest innovations in technical facilities.
The expectations of modern audiences have also been anticipated; with a stacked auditorium design meaning every comfortable seat will feel close to the stage, and audiences can additionally enjoy the highest standards of ventilation throughout the theatre. Spacious, glazed front-of-house areas offer far-reaching views across London, making a visit to the theatre a uniquely memorable experience. Visitors will enjoy top class bar, hospitality and VIP facilities, reinforcing the central role of this new landmark theatre in anchoring the wider Olympia redevelopment.
Currently under construction, the Olympia Theatre is scheduled to open in mid-late 2025. Trafalgar Entertainment’s lease runs for 35 years, with an option to extend for a further 35. They join luxury lifestyle and entertainment brands AEG Presents, Hyatt and citizenM as anchor tenants of the new, 14-acre Olympia redevelopment.
Trafalgar Entertainment beat off strong competition to lease the theatre. Leading theatre entrepreneurs and Joint CEOs of Trafalgar Entertainment, Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire are at the forefront of the UK’s cultural recovery. They founded Ambassador Theatre Group from scratch and built it into the world’s largest live theatre company while running the company for 25 successful years. Their latest venture – Trafalgar Entertainment – is a leading force behind major theatre investment in the UK and internationally.
In addition to the new Olympia theatre, Trafalgar Entertainment’s enlarged West End theatre – the Trafalgar Theatre – will open in July with Jersey Boys following a major multi-million pound restoration. Trafalgar Entertainment also recently completed the acquisition of HQ Theatres who operate 12 regional venues across the UK, and the major acquisition and restoration of Australia’s iconic Theatre Royal Sydney which opens with Broadway’s favourite multi award-winning musical, Alanis Morrisette’s Jagged Little Pill in September.
