Theatre Royal Drury Lane, one of London’s most iconic cultural venues, today announces a range of new food and drink offerings – available to everyone, whether coming to a show or not – to celebrate the forthcoming season of Shakespeare plays, directed by multi award-winning producer/director, Jamie Lloyd. The start of this season fulfils a long-held ambition of The Lane’s owner, Andrew Lloyd Webber, to bring Shakespeare back to The Lane for the first time since Peter Brook’s legendary production, which closed in 1957.
To mark Shakespeare’s return, The Lane is delighted to announce the return of its much-loved Christmas-themed Regency Afternoon Tea, and a new festive carols event on Monday 2nd December. The Lane’s Christmas Regency Afternoon Tea offers guests mouthwatering scones and sweet treats curated by baker to the stars Lily Vanilli with savoury bites made by The Lane’s in-house chefs, all topped off with festive decorations and cheer. Christmas Afternoon Tea is served daily from 12noon in The Grand Saloon.
The Grand Saloon’s gilded high ceilings, large windows and crystal chandeliers create a true sense of Regency grandeur – the perfect treat this Christmas. The Lane’s Afternoon Tea, open to everyone, not just theatre ticket holders, remains the only opportunity to enjoy food and drink in a busy West End theatre this festive season.
Monday, 2nd December will see the launch of the Shakespearean festive season with Christmas lights, decorative installations, and Christmas carols from Some Voices at 7pm, and personalised poems from The Poetry Takeaway for one night only.
Other activations live at The Lane over the festive season will include:
The launch of The Terrace as an all-day festive outdoor venue, heated, and covered with immersive festive decorations and lights. A wonderful winter rooftop hideaway overlooking bustling Covent Garden with a festive menu bursting with seasonal favourites and winter warmers, from cocktails, nibbles to sharing boards.
The launch of a new pre-theatre menu to be announced soon
‘Live at The Lane’ – A brand-new series of ticketed events and workshops for the public to enjoy the spaces within The Lane outside of theatre shows. These will include flower pressing, book reading clubs, calligraphy writing, cocktail masterclasses and much more to be announced soon.
The beautiful Cecil Beaton Cocktail Bar is mixing things up, serving signature cocktails, including the ‘Storm in a Tea Cup’, inspired by both forthcoming productions of The Tempest, and the legendary photographers life and work. New cocktails to be announced in due course.
Shakespeare’s return to The Lane
The Tempest starring Sigourney Weaver showing from 7 December – 1 February 2025, more information here
Much Ado About Nothing starring Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell, showing from 10 Feb – 5 April 2025, more information here
Speaking when Jamie Lloyd Company’s Shakespeare season was announced, Andrew Lloyd Webber said, “When I was nine years old, I was taken to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane to see Peter Brook’s legendary production of The Tempest with John Gielgud as Prospero. It made a profound impression on me. At the final performance Gielgud broke Prospero’s staff and pronounced that Shakespeare would never again be performed at the Theatre Royal as it would be “lost to musicals.” Ever since I owned the Theatre Royal, I have been determined to prove him wrong. It is therefore a massive joy that Jamie Lloyd is bringing back Shakespeare to The Lane and even more wonderful that the first of two Shakespeare plays will be The Tempest.”
Shakespeare’s plays have been performed at Theatre Royal Drury Lane throughout its 350-year history, but it was David Garrick – who took over management of the theatre in 1747 – who reintroduced Shakespeare into popular consciousness in the 18th century after restoring the original texts for performances. His structural and managerial changes brought three decades of success to the theatre, with several Shakespeare plays performed on stage receiving critical acclaim.
Upon entering the magnificent Rotunda Bar, which is inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, guests are greeted with a stunning sculpture of William Shakespeare, which is mounted in the very same place as was drawn in the original 1812 blueprints of the theatre. In addition, eight striking paintings by Maria Kreyn can be found inside the building. These Shakespeare works were commissioned by Andrew Lloyd Webber in 2019 to pay homage to this significant playwriter and as a key part of the hugely ambitious restoration project. Kreyn studied King Lear, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, and The Tempest and took inspiration from the themes and characters of the plays for the monumental paintings that now stand at the foot of the two staircases. Speaking at the time of the commission, Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “We are on a huge adventure here, because no theatre that I know of has ever commissioned modern art on this scale”.
With over 350 years of history, Theatre Royal Drury Lane was restored to its former 1812 glory by Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd Webber in 2021, reimagined as an all-day destination in the heart of Covent Garden. This festive season sees this ambition reach even greater heights, all in celebration of the Shakespeare’s legacy at The Lane, retold and celebrated for modern audiences today.
Christmas Afternoon Tea is priced from £59 per person, Children’s Afternoon Tea is £20 per person and will be served from 11th November to 3rd January. Vegan, gluten free and kids options are available, and you can upgrade to Champagne Afternoon Tea on arrival.
