In Spring 2002 further discussions were held with Christ’s Hospital and on 15 October 2002 the freehold of the Queen’s and Gielgud was purchased. Beginning with the Prince Edward and Prince of Wales Delfont Mackintosh took over running the then Strand Theatre on 31 March 2003 which underwent major restoration and reopened as the Novello Theatre in December 2005 in recognition of the brilliant actor and composer Ivor Novello who lived in a flat above the theatre for 38 years. The Albery and Wyndham’s Theatres came on stream on 19 September 2005 and the Gielgud Theatre joined the Queen’s as a Delfont theatre on 25 March 2006. The fully renovated Prince of Wales Theatre reopened on 27 May 2004 with MAMMA MIA! which transferred from the Prince Edward thereby allowing that theatre to enjoy its second refurbishment, completed in December 2004. Prior to Miss Saigon opening in May 2014 further improvements were made to both front of house and backstage facilities. The Gielgud was refurbished in two phases in 2007 and 2008 and Queen’s in 2009 and 2010 before the 25th anniversary of Les Misérables. Wyndham’s and the Noël Coward have also been restored to their former glory.
The current redevelopment of the Victoria area has provided the unique opportunity to enlarge the Victoria Palace Theatre. On 21st September 2014 Delfont Mackintosh acquired this beautiful Frank Matcham venue from Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, which has since undergone extensive refurbishment commencing in 2016. Delfont Mackintosh Theatres is now the proud owner of eight theatres (six freeholds and two very long leases). The Victoria Palace Theatre, magnificently restored for the 21st century, reopened on 6th December with the European premiere of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize winning Hamilton. These significant upgrades to all eight Delfont Mackintosh theatres demonstrate Cameron Mackintosh’s major financial commitment to maintaining his theatres to the highest possible standards to give the audiences and artists a memorable theatrical experience.
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