New West End Theatre Approved For Shaftesbury Avenue

Planning permission has been granted for a major new cultural venue on Shaftesbury Avenue, marking the return of the historic Saville Theatre to the West End stage.

First opened in 1931, the theatre will be revived as part of a broader development by Yoo Capital. The project includes a new 622-seat subterranean theatre, a nine-storey boutique hotel operated by citizenM, and food and drink spaces run by Incipio Group. London architects SPPARC will oversee the restoration, which includes reinstating the original Shaftesbury Avenue entrance and uncovering a long-hidden glazed arch window.

The redevelopment also preserves key features such as the Art Deco façade and Gilbert Bayes’ iconic Drama through the Ages frieze.

Despite approval, Theatres Trust expressed disappointment at the scale of the theatre, calling it a “missed opportunity” for a more ambitious cultural project. CEO Joshua McTaggart argued that a larger, purpose-built theatre would have delivered stronger long-term value for Camden and the West End.

Nevertheless, developers claim the plan strikes the right balance between design excellence, commercial viability, and heritage preservation. Cirque du Soleil is in discussions to be the theatre’s first resident company.

The project follows years of consultation and is set to reinvigorate one of London’s most iconic theatrical sites.