Mrs. Doubtfire
Direct from a sensational run-up in Manchester — where it played to sold-out crowds and standing ovations — the new comedy musical MRS. DOUBTFIRE is ready to dazzle and delight the West End from 12 May 2023!
Out-of-work actor Daniel will do anything for his kids. After losing custody in a messy divorce, he creates the alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. As his new character takes on a life of its own, Mrs. Doubtfire teaches Daniel more than he bargained for about how to be a father.
MRS. DOUBTFIRE has been created by a transatlantic team of award-winning artists, with a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, original music and lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick (the Tony Award-nominated team behind Something Rotten!, along with O’Farrell), direction by 4-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks (Hello, Dolly!), scenic design by David Korins (Hamilton), choreography by Lorin Latarro (Waitress), and music supervision by Ethan Popp (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical).
A hilarious and heartfelt story about holding onto your loved ones against all odds, MRS. DOUBTFIRE is the musical comedy we need right now.
Shaftesbury Theatre
The original theatre on the site was designed for the brothers Walter and Frederick Melville by Bertie Crewe and opened on 26th December 1911 as The New Prince’s Theatre with a production of The Three Musketeers, and becoming the Prince’s Theatre in 1914. At that time the theatre had a seating capacity of 2392 and a stage that had a width of 31 feet 10 inches and a depth of 31 feet.
Situated near New Oxford Street the theatre was the last to be built on Shaftesbury Avenue. It had significant success with an 18 week season of Gilbert and Sullivan operas in 1919, presented by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. These became frequent entertainment at the theatre in the 1920s, interspersed with productions which had transferred from other venues. The prominent Basil Rathbone performed at the Prince’s Theatre in May 1933 when he played the role of Julian Beauclerc in a revival of Diplomacy. Another revival in the shape of The Rose of Persia played at the theatre in 1935 with The D’Oyly Carte returning in 1942.
The theatre was purchased by EMI in 1962 and was named the Shaftesbury Theatre the following year. Broadway productions transferred to the theatre in the 1960s which included the musicals Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1962), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1963) and Little Me (1964).
On 20th July 1973, part of the ceiling collapsed, causing the closure of the long-running musical Hair, after nearly two thousand (1998) performances. The theatre nearly fell victim to subsequent redevelopment, but a successful campaign by Equity ensued the theatre was placed on the ‘Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest’, with the theatre being Grade II listed by English Heritage in March 1974.
The following year, the theatre reopened with the musical West Side Story. The 1980s included such shows as, They’re Playing Our Song (1980) and Follies (1987). The 1990s had shows including Kiss of the Spider Woman (1992), Eddie Izzard: Definite Article (1995) and the musical Rent (1998). During the redevelopment in the late 1990s of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, the theatre was used as an alternative London venue for performances including Benjamin Britten’s Paul Bunyan.
Shaftesbury Theatre Seating Plan
Shaftesbury Theatre
210 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8DP
