King's Head Theatre

King's Head Theatre

115 Upper St, Islington, Greater London, London N1 1QN

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The King’s Head Theatre stands on a plot of land that has been used as a public house since 1543, though for most of its history it has been known as the King’s Head Tavern (the name itself coming from an old story about Henry VIII supposedly stopping for a pint on his way to see his mistress). The current building dates back to the 1800s.

Dan Crawford took over The King's Head in 1970, and founded the King’s Head Theatre in a room that had been used as a boxing ring and pool hall, establishing the first pub theatre in London since Shakespeare’s day. Under his leadership the pub became well-known for ringing up pounds, shillings and pence until 2008, a full thirty-seven years after the rest of the UK had switched to decimal currency. Five years on, the old till still sits behind the bar. The pub is packed full of other period details, including gas lights, the original bar, old photography, and coal fires that burn continuously throughout the winter.

 

Crawford led The King's Head for thirty-five years, establishing it as a breeding ground for new talent and great work. The walls of the pub display the multitude of famous faces that began their career here. In 2010, Olivier Award-winning UpClose Productions became The King's Head Theatre’s resident company, and Adam Spreadbury-Maher was appointed the venue’s second Artistic Director, working alongside Robin Norton-Hale who leads the company’s opera programme. UpClose Productions produce at least eight shows a year, and curate the work of visiting companies all year round. The venue’s reputation for nurturing new talent continues, with pioneering Trainee Director scheme (winner of the Royal Anniversary Trust Award in 1992) still being run by UpClose Productions. Recent graduates have gone on to work at the National Theatre, RSC, Lyric Hammersmith and the Globe, plus many other internationally-renowned companies.

Cinderella is the current production at King's Head Theatre. The upcoming booking period for Cinderella at King's Head Theatre starts 01/12/2024 13:30:00 and runs until 05/01/2025 17:30:00. Tickets for Cinderella start at £13 and are available to book now.

How To Survive Your Mother is the current production at King's Head Theatre. The latest booking period for How To Survive Your Mother at King's Head Theatre started 23/10/2024 19:00:00 and runs until 24/11/2024 18:00:00. Tickets for How To Survive Your Mother start at £13 and are available to book now.

Queen Bette is the current production at King's Head Theatre. The upcoming booking period for Queen Bette at King's Head Theatre starts 05/11/2024 21:00:00 and runs until 23/11/2024 20:00:00. Tickets for Queen Bette start at £10 and are available to book now.

Stalled The Musical is the current production at King's Head Theatre. The upcoming booking period for Stalled The Musical at King's Head Theatre starts 13/02/2025 19:00:00 and runs until 23/03/2025 14:00:00. Tickets for Stalled The Musical start at £13 and are available to book now.

The Show On The Roof is the current production at King's Head Theatre. The upcoming booking period for The Show On The Roof at King's Head Theatre starts 11/07/2025 19:30:00 and runs until 16/08/2025 19:30:00. Tickets for The Show On The Roof start at £13 and are available to book now.

(This is not A) Happy Room is the current production at King's Head Theatre. The upcoming booking period for (This is not A) Happy Room at King's Head Theatre starts 26/03/2025 19:00:00 and runs until 27/04/2025 18:00:00. Tickets for (This is not A) Happy Room start at £13 and are available to book now.

Puppy is the current production at King's Head Theatre. The upcoming booking period for Puppy at King's Head Theatre starts 01/04/2025 21:00:00 and runs until 27/04/2025 15:00:00. Tickets for Puppy start at £13 and are available to book now.

Firebird is the current production at King's Head Theatre. The upcoming booking period for Firebird at King's Head Theatre starts 09/01/2025 19:00:00 and runs until 09/02/2025 14:00:00. Tickets for Firebird start at £13 and are available to book now.

The King of Pangea is the current production at King's Head Theatre. The upcoming booking period for The King of Pangea at King's Head Theatre starts 07/06/2025 19:30:00 and runs until 06/07/2025 15:00:00. Tickets for The King of Pangea start at £13 and are available to book now.

The Gang of Three is the current production at King's Head Theatre. The upcoming booking period for The Gang of Three at King's Head Theatre starts 30/04/2025 19:00:00 and runs until 01/06/2025 18:00:00. Tickets for The Gang of Three start at £13 and are available to book now.

King's Head Theatre is located in London. The full address is King's Head Theatre, 115 Upper St, Islington, Greater London, London N1 1QN.