Theatrical history in the making

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Hamnet

This hotly anticipated West End transfer turns the pages of theatrical history and invites you into the life of one of the greatest writers to have ever lived. Hamnet is the untold story of a natural healer named Agnes Hathaway, her Latin tutor, William Shakespeare, and the son they lost to the plague aged only eleven. How did this tragedy shape the future of this couple and what impact would it have on history’s greatest theatrical legacy?

Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel is skilfully adapted for the stage by Lolita Chakrabarti, whose adaptation of Life of Pi has seen phenomenal success across the UK. After a sell-out season at the RSC’s Swan Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Hamnet comes to the Garrick Theatre in London for a strictly limited 14-week season.

A powerful story of passion, love, grief and creativity, Hamnet is a play that epitomises the magic of theatre to move, heal and inspire. Don't miss this extraordinary production in the West End this year.

Show Times

Booking From: 30 September 2023
Booking Until: 17 February 2024
Running Time: Running time is 2 hours 30 minutes (including an interval)
Age Restrictions: The age recommendation for Hamnet is TBC.

Video Show Times

About the Garrick Theatre

The Garrick Theatre is named after influential 18th Century actor David Garrick and first opened in 1889. It stands on London's Charing Cross Road, very close to Wyndham's Theatre. The Garrick is known for high-profile comedy and drama productions but has hosted a few musicals as well, such as Young Frankenstein and Chicago.

Some other notable productions at the Garrick Theatre have included comedy No Sex Please, We're British, drama Bitter Wheat starring John Malkovich and Born Yesterday directed by Laurence Olivier. With its location on a major London thoroughfare, a stone's throw from Trafalgar Square, the frontage of Garrick Theatre with it's exciting and often-changing show branding is an iconic sight on the West End.

Garrick Theatre History and Timeline

Bonnie & Clyde opens at the Garrick

2023-03-09

Cult musical Bonnie & Clyde opens at the Garrick Theatre with Frances Mayli McCann as Bonnie and Jordan Luke Gage as Clyde. The production previously played at the Arts Theatre.

The Last Five Years plays a limited run at the Garrick

2021-09-17

Popular time-bending musical The Last Five Years returns to the West End for the first time in over a decade with a limited run at the Garrick Theatre. Oli Higginson and Molly Lynch star.

Billionaire Boy opens at the Garrick

2021-07-17

David Walliams' beloved children's book gets the West End treatment as Billionaire Boy transfers to the Garrick. Produced by Birmingham Stage Company, the same team behind Gangsta Granny, this production tells the story of a super rich kid looking for friends in a comprehensive school.

The Drifters Girl opens

2021-12-01

After a run of previews, The Drifters Girl opens with a press night at the Garrick Theatre. Critics applaud the music and the central performance from Beverley Knight.

Critics praised the venue

1889-04-26

The Stage published a glowing review of the Garrick Theatre two days after it opened, saying that the new theatre was already a 'classic'.

The Garrick Theatre was built

1889-03-01

The Garrick Theatre was built in the 1880s by Messrs Peto, designed by Walter Emden and C. J. Phipps, and funded by playwright W. S. Gilbert - the author of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas. The build was difficult, however. They discovered an ancient Roman river flowing underneath the building site, which had been buried as London became more populated in the 15th Century. They finally found a way to divert the river underneath the theatre without compromising its structure.

The theatre opened with 'The Profilgate' by A. W. Pinero

1889-04-24

The Garrick Theatre opened on the 24th April 1889 with a performance of 'The Profligate' by A. W. Pinero. Johnstone Forbes Robertson and Lewis Walter starred in the production and it was an all round success with the critics.

Water Babies

1902-01-01

Rutland Barrington produced several shows at the Garrick, including his popular fairy play Water Babies, based on Charles Kingsley's 1862 book. The music was composed by Frederick Rosse, Albert Fox, and Alfred Cellier.

W S Gilbert premiere

1904-01-01

W. S. Gilbert’s only premiere at this theatre is Harlequin and the Fairy's Dilemma (retitled The Fairy's Dilemma after a few performances), a so-called ‘domestic pantomime’.

The Walls of Jericho by Alfred Sutro

1905-05-08

The Walls of Jericho', a four act play by Alfred Sutro, ran at the Garrick Theatre for nearly a year.

The theatre seating was reduced

1912-02-08

The theatre was built on four levels; the Stalls, Dress Circle, Upper Circle, and Gallery, instead of the usual three levels. When it opened it boasted 1500 seats, but by 1912 the theatre said it could only realistically manage 1250. Two of the exclusive Circle Boxes were taken out to reduce audience numbers and access to the Gallery was blocked. There is still bench seating on Gallery level but it is no longer used by the public. The current audience capacity is now a much smaller 718.

It was turned into a Forces Theatre

1935-04-05

Many West End theatres were transformed into entertainment venues for the Armed Forces during World War II. The Garrick failed against other more successful Forces venues, such as the Fortune, and was subsequently closed down. It remained closed until September 1941, when it reopened with the play 'Room V'.

Laurence Olivier directs Born Yesterday

1947-01-01

Laurence Olivier directed Jack Buchanan in Born Yesterday and Australian actor Coral Browne in Frederick Lonsdale’s Canaries Sometimes Sing.

The theatre had many successful productions

1959-07-10

Following World War II the theatre hosted many successful productions with starring actors including Margaret Rutherford and Peggy Mount, Sheila Hancock.

The Garrick gets listed

1960-09-20

English Heritage lists the theatre Grade II due to the original features in the theatre’s interior.

GLC threaten theatres

1968-01-01

The Greater London Council proposes a redevelopment of the entire Covent Garden area, threatening theatres in the vicinity, including the Vaudeville, Adelphi, Lyceum and Duchess as well as the Garrick. Equity, the Musicians’ Union and Save London Theatres successfully campaigned for the plan to be dropped.

Deathtrap by Ira Levin

1978-08-09

Ira Levin's play 'Deathtrap' still holds the title of the longest running comedy-thriller on Broadway. The West End version played at the Garrick Theatre for three years and was a huge success. In 1982 it was adapted into a popular film starring Michael Caine, Dyan Cannon and Christopher Reeve.

No Sex Please, We're British

1982-08-20

No Sex Please, We're British', the hugely popular farce by Alistair Foot and Anthony Marriott, had its first performance on the West End in 1971. It ran until 1987 at three West End theatres, the Strand, the Duchess and the Garrick.

Acquired by Stoll Moss

1986-03-02

The Stoll Moss Group, formed by Sir Edward Moss, Richard Thornton and Sir Oswald Stoll, took over the Garrick in 1986. The Stoll Moss Group owned the largest chain of variety theatres and music halls in Britain in the first half of the 19th Century. They were originally called Moss Empires, possibly from their ownership of the old Empire Theatre of Varities on Leicester Square.

Mr and Mrs Nobody

1986-08-20

Judi Dench and Michael Williams starred in 'Mr and Mrs Nobody' by Keith Waterhouse.

The Garrick underwent two restorations

1989-06-11

In 1989, exactly 100 years after it was built, the theatre's interior had a major face lift courtesy of the stage designer Carl Toms. It was primarily to restore the damaged gold leaf on the decorative cherubs and to update some of the fading paintwork. In 1997 the theatre façade was renovated to restore the Garrick to its former glory. The theatre now looks much as it did when it was first built in 1889.

An Inspector Calls opens

1995-01-01

Stephen Daldry’s acclaimed 1992 production of An Inspector Calls reopens and runs for 6 years.

The theatre was bought by the Really Useful Group

2000-01-01

Andrew Lloyd Webber's international company the Really Useful Group bought the Garrick Theatre in 2000.

Ricky Gervais 'Politics'

2004-08-06

Ricky Gervais workshopped his stand up comedy show 'Politics' at the Garrick Theatre in 2004. The final show was recorded and released on DVD.

The Garrick was bought by Nimax

2005-05-06

Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer bought the Garrick Theatre in 2005 and added it to the Nimax portfolio of theatres.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

2006-03-02

The stage version of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' was adapted by Dale Wasserman from Ken Kesey's popular 1962 novel. The story is set in a psychiatric hospital in Oregon and critiques the American health system during the 1950s and 1960s. Christian Slater and Alex Kingston starred in the production at the Garrick.

Bille Piper in 'Treats, Bad Girls: The Musical'

2007-06-29

In 2007 Billie Piper made her stage debut at the Garrick in a production of Christopher Hampton’s Treats, Bad Girls: The Musical. She performed alongside Laurence Fox, who she subsequently married in December of the same year.

Zorro

2008-07-15

Zorro' The Musical had music from the Gipsy Kings and James Cameron. It opened at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne before moving to the Garrick for it's West End run. The show was due to open at the start of July but the production team encountered some technical problems, so the opening was postponed until the 15th July. It starred Matt Rawle, Emma Williams and Adam Levy.

A Little Night Music

2009-04-15

Trevor Nunn revives the Stephen Sondheim classic 'A Little Night Music', starring Alexander Hanson, Hannah Waddingham and Maureen Lipman. The show features the classic number 'Send in the Clowns'.

Pygmalion

2011-07-03

George Bernard Shaw's 'Pygmalion' played at the Garrick for three months after transferring from the Chichester Theatre. The play tells the story of Henry Higgins and the Cockney flower seller Eliza Doolittle; people are perhaps more familiar with the musical version of the play, 'My Fair Lady'. This production had an all star cast of Rupert Everett, Dame Diana Rigg, Simon Ward, Kara Tointon and Peter Eyre.

The Hurly Burly Show

2011-03-03

Miss Polly Rae and her six Hurly Burly Girlys performed a 'contemporary burlesque revue'. It was a night of singing, dancing, burlesque and bawdy cabaret.

Chicago ends its run at the Garrick

2012-01-01

The jazz musical 'Chicago' finished its 15 year run at the Garrick Theatre after transferring from the Cambridge Theatre. The show starred America Ferrera, known for her role as Betty in the hit TV series 'Ugly Betty'.

Loserville

2012-10-06

Elliot Davis and James Bourne's new 'Loserville' premiered at the Garrick in 2012, starring Aaron Sidwell and Lil Chris.

Rock of Ages

2013-01-05

The musical 'Rock of Ages' transferred from the Shaftesbury Theatre, starring Justin Lee Collins and Shayne Ward

Twelve Angry Men

2013-11-17

Martin Shaw and Robert Vaughn starred in 'Twelve Angry Men' from November 2013 to June 2014

Let It Be

2014-07-09

Let It Be', the jukebox musical charting the Beatles' rise to worldwide success, returned to the West End in July 2014.

The Scottsboro Boys

2014-10-04

The Scottsboro Boys' enjoyed a sell out run at The Young Vic and is now transferring to the Garrick Theatre in autumn 2014. The production is based on the true story of nine African American teenagers in 1930s Alabama, whose court case changed the way that black citizens were trialled in the US. The musical was nominated for 6 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. It's also the last production of the composing duo Kander and Ebb, behind 'Chicago' and 'Cabaret', and is directed by Susan Stroman ('The Producers').

Let it Be

2015-02-28

Let it Be has had a long life on the West End and it returns once again to the Garrick Theatre in February 2015.

Red Velvet Opens

2016-01-23

Written by Lolita Chakrabarti, Red Velvet joins the Kenneth Branagh season of Plays at the Garrick. Starring British actor Adrian Lester, the play follows the story of African American actor Ira Aldridge as he takes over the part of Othello at a time when the abolition of slavery is being protested.

The Winter's Tale Opens

2015-10-17

Kenneth Branagh kicks off his newly formed company’s inaugural season at the Garrick theatre with Shakespare's The Winter’s Tale starring himself as Leontes and Judi Dench as Paulina. Part tragedy, part comedy the play tells the story of a jealous King who makes a terrible mistake. The production is co-directed by Branagh and Rob Ashford.

Potted Panto opens

2016-12-10

The ever enjoyable Potted Panto production returns to the West End, cramming seven pantomimes into one whirlwind performance. This production featured 3D projections of beloved pantomime characters, brought to the stage by CBBC presenters Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner.

The Miser opens

2017-03-01

Griff Rhys Jones stars in Molière's great comedy, adapted for the stage by Sean Foley and Phil Porter. The hilarious play focuses on a character called Harpagon, whose mission is to prevent everyone from getting their hands on his money.

This House opens

2016-11-19

Following great success at the National Theatre, This House gets a long-awaited West End transfer to the Garrick Theatre. This political drama was written by James Graham, and focuses on the heated debates and conflict that take place behind the scenes in Parliament.

Gangsta Granny sneaks into the Garrick Theatre

2017-08-01

David Walliams' popular children's book receives a mesmerising stage adaptation at the Garrick Theatre. After a successful UK tour, the hilariously fun story follows a a groovy Granny with a very big secret!

Horrible Histories returns to the West End

2017-08-04

Following several successful West End seasons, Birmingham Stage Company's hit stage adaptations of Terry Deary's popular series Horrible Histories return once more to the West End. Playing a limited season at the Garrick Theatre, Horrible Histories - More Best of Barmy Britain is sure to be wildly entertaining!

Tape Face entertains audiences at the Garrick

2017-06-06

Quirky comedian Tape Face comes to the Garrick Theatre London for a limited summer season. Heralded as a modern-day Charlie Chaplin, Tape Face is the enigmatic creation from Sam Wills, who has performed across the world, including Las Vegas and the Royal Variety Performance.

Young Frankenstein extends

2017-10-18

Young Frankenstein has extended its booking until 29th September 2018, giving audiences more chances to see this popular show.

Young Frankenstein comes to life at the Garrick

2017-09-28

Mel Brooks' musical comedy comes to life in the West End, making its London debut at the Garrick Theatre. Co-written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, the hilarious musical sees the infamous Frankenstein's grandson continue the family legacy.

Don Quixote rides into the Garrick

2018-10-27

After a sensational opening season at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre in 2016, Angus Jackson’s joyous production of Don Quixote transferred to the West End, with David Threlfall and Rufus Hound reprising their original roles of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

Young Frankenstein award nominations

2018-01-10

Young Frankenstein is nominated for a What’s on Stage Award for Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Hadley Fraser) and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (Ross Noble).

John Malkovich shocks in Bitter Wheat

2019-06-07

John Malkovich returned to the stage for the first time in thirty-three years in Bitter Wheat, David Mamet's bracing new play inspired by the #MeToo movement and the Weinstein scandal.

Brainiac Live explodes

2019-07-31

Based on the popular TV show, the Brainiacs arrived at the Garrick Theatre to takes audiences of a wild ride through exploding dustbins, combusting microwaves, live daredevils stunts and crazy experiments.

Noises Off transfers

2019-09-27

After an acclaimed run at Lyric Hammersmith, Michael Frayn’s classic farcical comedy Noises Off transfers to the Garrick Theatre, starring Meera Syal, Daniel Rigby, Lloyd Owen and Simon Rouse.

Strictly stars Rip It Up

2019-02-07

The ultimate strictly boy band brought the 60’s smashing into the Garrick Theatre in "Rip It Up". Aston Merrygold, Jay McGuiness, Harry Judd and Louis Smith sang, danced and performed amazing gymnastic feats in this spectacular show.

City of Angels opens

2020-03-05

City of Angels started playing at the Garrick on 5th March 2020. Unfortunately its run was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

Death Drop opens (again)

2021-06-01

After opening for only two weeks in December 2020 before being closed early by another lockdown, Death Drop opened again on the 1st June 2021.

Orlando opens to 5-star reviews

2022-12-05

Orlando opens at the Garrick Theatre to a host of rave-reviews. Emma Corrin is praised for her performance in what The Guardian describe as a "a giddy, heartfelt show".

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain Part 3 opens

2015-07-25

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain Part 3 made its West End premiere in summer 2015, and presented the wackiest moments of British history with all the nasty bits left in. Written by Terry Deary and Neal Foster, the show features sketches about King John, the Magna Carta, the Great Fire of London and Admiral Nelson.

Harlequinade Opens

2015-10-24

Kenneth Branagh revives Terence Rattigan’s comedy Harliquinade to play in rep with The Winter’s Tale at the Garrick from October 2015. This rarely performed farce funnily enough concerns a theatre company attempting to put on a disastrous production of The Winter’s Tale. This production co-directed by Rob Ashford will also star Branagh.

Romeo and Juliet Opens

2016-05-12

Kenneth Branagh directs the stars of his recent Disney Cinderella blockbuster Lily James (Downton Abbey) and Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) in Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy. In a break from traditional casting this production will also star veteran actor Derek Jacobi in the role of Romeo’s friend Mercutio. The play tells the story of forbidden love across the divide of two warring families.

The Entertainer Opens

2016-08-20

Kenneth Branagh stars as Archie Rice in a revival of John Osbourne’s classic The Entertainer directed by Rob Ashford. This story of a washed up musical hall performer marks the final show in Branagh’s newly formed company’s inaugural season of work at the Garrick theatre.

The Painkiller Opens

2016-03-05

Kenneth Branagh brings his production of The Painkiller, previously seen in Belfast, starring himself and Rob Brydon to the Garrick theatre as part of a new season of work. Sean Foley is the adapter and director of this production of Francis Veber’s classic French farce. This dark comedy tells the story of two very different men in adjoining hotel rooms one a killer and the other looking to end his life.