Barbican Theatre

Opened by the Queen in March 1982, the Barbican Theatre is part of the vast Barbican Centre, which heralds art, cinema, theatre and culture. Funded by the City of London Corporation, the Barbican Centre was intended as a centre for the arts. With a seating capacity of 1,166, the Barbican was originally designed to be the London home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. The RSC remained at the venue until 2002, when they decided not to renew their contract.

Since then, the Barbican Theatre has become a holding place for touring productions from companies such as Cheek by Jowl, Blue Boy Entertainment, the RSC and Michael Clarke Company. The centre is also associated with international companies including New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Jazz at the Lincoln Centre and more.

Notable productions at the theatre have included the RSC's Henry IV saga, as well as Sonia Friedman's sell-out Hamlet (2015), starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Well-known for hosting avant-garde theatre and touring productions, several shows pass through the Barbican throughout the year. The venue is best-known for hosting RSC productions, including Amadeus, Dr Faustus, Cymbeline and King Lear (2016).