Established in 1970, King’s Head Theatre is one of the oldest pub theatres in London. For over 50 years the theatre has been housed in the back room of the King’s Head Pub on Upper Street in an old boxing ring and pool hall.
Under Artistic Director & Founder Dan Crawford, who’s tenure lasted 35 years until his death in 2005, the theatre became known as a breeding ground for new talent and great work. Renowned actors like Maureen Lipman, Hugh Grant, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Alan Rickman & Richard E Grant have all performed here, & a number of our productions have transferred to London’s West End & New York’s Broadway, premiering work from writers such as Steven Berkoff, Tom Stoppard, Bryony Lavery & Victoria Wood.
In 2010, the Olivier Award-winning company Opera UpClose Productions became the theatre’s resident company for four years, & with Adam Spreadbury-Maher as Artistic Director, turned King’s Head into “London’s Little Opera House”, winning an Olivier Award for La Boheme in the Best New Opera category. Opera remains at the core of what we do in the theatre, alongside our commitment to emerging, daring & innovative work, such as Trainspotting, the Edinburgh Fringe & touring immersive theatre hit that was developed under our roof.
In 2021, Mark Ravenhill became Artistic Director & today, our artistic policy is joyful, irreverent, colourful & queer. King’s Head Theatre showcases work across a wide range of performance styles: from plays to musicals, to opera & cabaret, to drag & comedy. You’re always bound to find something that’s entertaining, alternative & just for you.
“Our theatre focuses on showcasing LGBTQ+ work which explores the full spectrum of experiences symbolised by the rainbow flag. We are a home for a new wave of diverse queer theatre makers & we love to embrace stories that haven’t been told before, in ways that haven’t been invented yet.
We believe in trying to find sustainable solutions to making work on the fringe, & we were the first fringe venue to develop a fringe house agreement with Equity which makes a commitment to paying all our performers & stage managers ethically. Our theatre has, and always will be, a place for new talent, on & off-stage.”
The future of the fringe is here.
MT Pride Lab at The Kings Head Theatre Pub
Award winning theatre-maker and Director Tania Azevedo announces her new Musical Theatre season, MT Pride Lab, as part of the Guest Artistic Director Takeover.
Her curated season, MT Pride Lab, celebrates all different forms of Musical Theatre created by LGBTQIA+ artists.
“I am thrilled to present the upcoming season of Musical Theatre Pride Lab. This season is a vibrant playground where artists will hone and nurture their shows, taking creative risks while connecting with audiences and learning from their feedback.
Featuring stories celebrating forgotten Queer icons, mysteries about missing siblings and found identities, and tales where opera meets drag, our season offers a unique opportunity to witness the birth of tomorrow’s musical hits. Join us in celebrating the future of musical theatre!“
Sex, Drag & Opera | 6 – 10 Jun
Combining drag & opera, Freddie Love explores opera’s inherent queerness and gender bending-history. Join Freddie for your favourite arias… done very differently.
Julie: The Musical | 6 – 10 Jun
A new gig musical looking at the iconic historical figure Julie D’aubigny: worshipped opera singer, renowned swordswoman and flaming bisexual. Featuring live music, comedy, tap dancing, twerking nuns and a kazoo chorus, this high octane show will blow your mind.
My Sister Is Missing | 13 – 17 Jun
Basil’s sister is missing. The police don’t seem interested. This mystery musical follows Basil Plaint as they untangle the puzzle of their missing sister. Following a sold out show at The Other Palace, this show is a love/hate letter to being neurodivergent in a world that’s not built for you.
Lifeboats | 14 – 19 Jun
Rejecting stories of tragedy & telling joyful stories of queerness, this new musical explores moments of identification & recognition for the LGBTQ+ community.
The #Joe Show | 16 Jun
Winner of Drag at the Stag, runner-up of It’s a Knockout and Drag Idol returns to KHT! A one-twink show combining traditional aspects of LGBT+ cabaret with niche musical theatre, original musical comedy, phenomenal piano skill and glitteringly outrageous outfits.
I’m Done With This Shit | 26 Jun
A folk-rock musical about ambition and what happens at drama school when things go wrong. When Jack is offered a place at a top drama school, with no student funding available, and no rich family to pay their way, they move to London anyway, relying on hostels, classmates’ couches and a park bench to make it through. And it’s going well… until him.
Guymart | 30 – 6 Jul
What if a gay hookup app was an actual supermarket? Browse, purchase and find your next sexual partner. This one act new musical follows a young single Matt as he becomes part of the GuyMart stock… but not everything is as it seems.
La Copla | 1 & 2 Jul
Copla music was a genre of music repressed by Franco’s dictatorship and lost into history… until now. This one of a kind show by La Gitana deconstructs the subversive background of the traditional music, exploring their historical significance and relevance for queer collectives now. Joyful, comedic and interactive, it will leave you informed, amused and more appreciative of Span than ever before.
Diary of a Gay Disaster | 7, 8 & 11; 17 – 23 Jul
After her housemates discover her teenage diary, Ellis makes a very long (and very gay) night of reading it. A new musical comedy where three queer women get to grips with their gay panic the only way they know how – with singing, and a lot of shots.
Rockstar | 12 – 15 Jul
Delving deep into the complexities of bi-erasure & the high stakes of fame & success, this new musical unpacks the personal struggles & sacrifices that come with pursuing one’s dreams.
Indefinite Leave To Remain | 15 Jul
Hersh Dagmar’s Kabaret brings the deconstructed songs of The Pet Shop Boys and transports them to the Weimar era. Think a combination of noughties club kid, jazz, electronic avant-pop… cabaret.
Kissing a Fool | 30 & 31 Jul
A queer clown-cabaret tribute to icon George Michael. We meet young George after the death of his lover, Anselmo Feleppa and after loosing a high-profile legal battle with Sony Music. Fearing he’ll never write another song… George awakens the Fool from deep within.
Part of the MT Pride Lab season ticket offer!*
Book x2 shows, get 10% off.
Book x3 or more shows, get 20% off.
Excludes £10 tickets.*
Timeline History for The Kings Head Theatre Pub
1970 | Dan Crawford founds the first pub theatre in London since Shakespeare’s day and King’s Head Theatre is born. Dan Crawford serves as Artistic Director for 35 years.
1983 | A revival of Mr Cinders, opens at King’s Head Theatre before transferring to the West End. It goes on to run for 527 performances.
1983 | Noel and Gurtie, starring Joanna Lumley, premieres at King’s Head Theatre.
1985 | Hugh Grant makes his acting debut at King’s Head Theatre.
1986 | Maureen Lipman stars in Olivier Award-nominated Wonderful Town at King’s Head Theatre.
1988 | The premier of Tom Stoppard’s Artist Descending a Staircase opens at King’s Head Theatre before transferring to Broadway.
1991 | Steven Berkoff directs & stars in the UK premiere of Kvetch at the King’s Head Theatre.
2002 | Dan & Stephanie Crawford receive Her Majesty the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for Contribution to the Arts, & The Trainee Resident Directors Scheme wins the Royal Anniversary Trust Award.
2006 | The documentary King’s Head Theatre: A Maverick in London, is made. It airs on SkyARTS World for 3 years.
2010 | Opera Up Close, founded by Adam Spreadbury-Maher & Robin Norton-Hale become resident company for 4 years. Adam becomes Artistic Director of King’s Head Theatre.
2011 | La bohème wins the Olivier Award for Best New Opera Performance.
2012 | Vieux Carre by Tennessee Williams receives its UK premiere before transferring to the West End.
2015 | King’s Head Theatre forms a new charity to secure the future of the theatre.
2015 | Shock Treatment, the sequel to The Rocky Horror Show Picture Show has its world premiere at King’s Head Theatre.
2015 | Trainspotting is first performed at King’s Head Theatre, hitting its 900th performance in August 2017.
2016 | 43,857 audience members see a show at our London home – our highest footfall ever!
2017 | King’s Head Theatre announces the transfer of La bohème & Strangers in Between to Trafalgar Studios 2 in London’s West End. La bohème goes on to be nominated for Best New Opera Production at the Olivier Awards.
2019 | King’s Head Theatre’s production of Kevin Elyot’s Coming Clean transfers to Trafalgar Studios 2 in London’s West End.
2021 | Mark Ravenhill is appointed as Artistic Director
2022 | Kings Head Theatre finally has its 50th birthday celebration, delayed because of Covid-19.
KHT50: Barstools to Broadway plays for one week bringing together work which premiered at King’s Head Theatre in the 1970s & 1980s. These plays included Timberlake Wertenbaker’s The Third, performed at the V&A & read by Dame Kristin Scott Thomas & Gemma Whelan, directed by Audrey Sheffield.
Other plays are read at KHT include Tom Stoppard’s Artist Descending a Staircase, directed by original director Tim Luscombe. Stephen Jeffrey’s Like Dolls or Angels, directed by his wife Annabel Arden and performed by Isobel Isobel Adomakoh Young & Joel Maccormack. Bryony Lavery’s Grandmother’s Steps, performed by Showstoppers! stars Ruth Bratt & Lucy Trodd, directed by Abigail Anderson. Victoria Wood’s musical Good Fun, directed by original cast member Annabel Leventon. Finally, we closed the week with Elegies for Angels Punks & Raging Queens, directed by writer Bill Russell and joined by 30 recent graduates.
HOW TO GET THERE
BY RAIL & UNDERGROUND
A 9 minute walk from Angel Station on the Northern Line (Bank Branch) & a 12 minute walk from Highbury & Islington Station on the Victoria Line, National Rail and Overground.
From Angel Station, exit the station and turn right. At Islington Green, veer left to stay on Upper Street. Located on the left hand side of the road, opposite St. Mary’s Church.
From Highbury & Islington Station, exit the station & turn right onto Upper Street. Located on the right hand side of the road, opposite St. Mary’s Church.
BY BUS
There are regular bus services to Upper Street from Central London & the surrounding districts.
The closest bus stop to our theatre is St. Mary’s Church, which is served by bus routes 4, 19, 30 & 43.
PARKING
Parking in the local area is limited & where possible.
What's on elsewhere?
