Standing at the Sky's Edge
Olivier Award-winning new British musical Standing at the Sky’s Edge is a stunning tribute to Sheffield’s iconic Park Hill Estate, told through three generations and six decades of residents. With beautiful music by Richard Hawley, this hit show premiered at the Crucible Theatre in 2019 to huge acclaim and is a must-see in the West End. Discover stories of community, love, loss and hope at the Gillian Lynne Theatre with tickets to this heartfelt, gut-wrenching show.
Save up to £24.50
Booking until 3 August 2024
Box Office Contacts
| Box Office: | +44 (0) 20 7087 7750 |
| Access Booking: | +44 (0) 20 7087 7966 |
| Group Booking: | 0203 925 2996 |
| Stage Door: | 020 7242 9802 |
History
One of the newest theatres on the West End, the Gillian Lynne Theatre (formerly New London Theatre) was built in 1973, on a site that has housed a theatre since Elizabethan times. Originally named the Mogul Saloon, the building lasted between 1847-1919, housing variety shows.
In 1919, the theatre was renamed the Winter Garden Theatre, reopening with P. G. Wodehouse's Kissing Times. Throughout the early 20th century, Gershwin musicals began to rise in popularity, with the theatre hosting Primrose (1924) and Tell Me More (1925). A hugely popular production of Funny Face (1929) also played at the venue, starring Fred and Adele Astaire.
Following the bout of musicals, the theatre began to stage plays such as George Bernard Shaw’s On the Rocks (1933) and Walter Greenwood’s Love On The Doll (1935). After a closure of several years, the theatre reopened with dramas, including Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution (1953). Sadly, the theatre began to lose audiences and closed once more in 1959.
In 1973, the Gillian Lynne Theatre was built and has gone on to house several large, successful musicals and plays, as well as Eurovision Song Contest heats, but is perhaps best-known for acting as the original home of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats (1981-2002). Following this, the venue hosted Umoja (2002-2003), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2003-2005), Blue Man Group (2005-2007) and the RSC's King Lear and The Seagull (2007-2008), starring Ian McKellen.
In 2008, the theatre put on Gone With the Wind - A New Musical, starring Darius Campbell and Jill Paice, which closed after less than two months. This was followed by Imagine This - A New Musical, which had even worse luck, closing after less than one month.
In 2009, the Gillian Lynne Theatre struck lucky with the transfer of the National Theatre's War Horse, which ran at the venue until early 2016. Further productions have since included The Elephantom (2014) and Sheffield Crucible's five-star Show Boat (2016), which earned Rebecca Trehearn an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway hit School of Rock the Musical transferred to the venue in 2016, earning rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. The musical played its final performance at the venue in March 2020.
The Gillian Lynne Theatre underwent refurbishment works prior to the opening of Andrew Lloyd Webber's brand new musical adaptation of Cinderella in June 2021, starring Carrie Hope Fletcher in the title role. The production was due to open in 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella closed in June 2022, following a year-long West End run. The acclaimed touring production of C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe transferred to the Gillian Lynne Theatre in July 2022 for a six-month run. Olivier and Tony Award-winning play The Lehman Trilogy ran for a limited season at the theatre in 2023.
In summer 2023, Susan Stroman's acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre production of Crazy For You opened at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, starring Charlie Stemp and Carly Anderson.
In February 2024, Olivier Award-winning new British musical Standing at the Sky's Edge opens at the Gillian Lynne Theatre after sold-out runs in Sheffield and the National Theatre.
In 1919, the theatre was renamed the Winter Garden Theatre, reopening with P. G. Wodehouse's Kissing Times. Throughout the early 20th century, Gershwin musicals began to rise in popularity, with the theatre hosting Primrose (1924) and Tell Me More (1925). A hugely popular production of Funny Face (1929) also played at the venue, starring Fred and Adele Astaire.
Following the bout of musicals, the theatre began to stage plays such as George Bernard Shaw’s On the Rocks (1933) and Walter Greenwood’s Love On The Doll (1935). After a closure of several years, the theatre reopened with dramas, including Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution (1953). Sadly, the theatre began to lose audiences and closed once more in 1959.
In 1973, the Gillian Lynne Theatre was built and has gone on to house several large, successful musicals and plays, as well as Eurovision Song Contest heats, but is perhaps best-known for acting as the original home of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats (1981-2002). Following this, the venue hosted Umoja (2002-2003), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2003-2005), Blue Man Group (2005-2007) and the RSC's King Lear and The Seagull (2007-2008), starring Ian McKellen.
In 2008, the theatre put on Gone With the Wind - A New Musical, starring Darius Campbell and Jill Paice, which closed after less than two months. This was followed by Imagine This - A New Musical, which had even worse luck, closing after less than one month.
In 2009, the Gillian Lynne Theatre struck lucky with the transfer of the National Theatre's War Horse, which ran at the venue until early 2016. Further productions have since included The Elephantom (2014) and Sheffield Crucible's five-star Show Boat (2016), which earned Rebecca Trehearn an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway hit School of Rock the Musical transferred to the venue in 2016, earning rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. The musical played its final performance at the venue in March 2020.
The Gillian Lynne Theatre underwent refurbishment works prior to the opening of Andrew Lloyd Webber's brand new musical adaptation of Cinderella in June 2021, starring Carrie Hope Fletcher in the title role. The production was due to open in 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella closed in June 2022, following a year-long West End run. The acclaimed touring production of C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe transferred to the Gillian Lynne Theatre in July 2022 for a six-month run. Olivier and Tony Award-winning play The Lehman Trilogy ran for a limited season at the theatre in 2023.
In summer 2023, Susan Stroman's acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre production of Crazy For You opened at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, starring Charlie Stemp and Carly Anderson.
In February 2024, Olivier Award-winning new British musical Standing at the Sky's Edge opens at the Gillian Lynne Theatre after sold-out runs in Sheffield and the National Theatre.
