West End Theatre to be renamed Dame Judi Dench Theatre

Shaftesbury Theatre, the largest independent theatre in the West End, has announced today (June 16) that it is set to become the Judi Dench Theatre from February 2027.

The theatre says the tribute will honour Dame Judi Dench’s exceptional contribution to British theatre and the performing arts, as well as being the first time a West End theatre has been named after an actress.

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Dame Judi Dench said: “The Shaftesbury Theatre has always held a special place in my heart.

“My relationship to the Theatre of Comedy and to the Taffner family goes back many years and to have this beautiful theatre renamed after me is truly overwhelming.

“Live theatre continues to be so important as a way of telling stories and entertaining audiences, something I have aimed to do all my working life.”

Dame Judi’s – who was born in Heworth and had her start as an actress in the York Mystery Plays – was a founding member of the Theatre of Comedy and helped secure the future of the Shaftesbury in the 1980s and early 1990s.

This work also led to a close relationship with the Taffner family, who own the theatre and a production company, and saw her staring in the long-running television series As Time Goes By, which was produced the family.

The Shaftesbury Theatre in Central London (Image: Google Maps)

Donald Taffner Jr, chairman, said: “Dame Judi has been a close friend of the DLT family for so long, particularly from her involvement with As Time Goes By, and we will always treasure the time she made in her busy schedule to make the programme.

“We have such fond memories of Judi at the Shaftesbury from the meetings for the Theatre of Comedy members to when her husband was performing in a number of the Theatre of Comedy productions.

“We are therefore delighted to recognise her extraordinary talent and extensive contribution to many in the renaming of our theatre.”

Eleanor Lang, chief executive, said: “We are so excited to rename the Shaftesbury Theatre in honour of Dame Judi.

“Not only does she play an important role in our history, but she is an iconic figure of the stage and screen landscape.

“We don’t celebrate brilliant women enough in our West End theatre names, so we are delighted that her name will be forever in lights above our doorway.”