It sounds strange, but the New Wimbledon Theatre is located on Broadway. London Broadway - typical street suburb, built in neat two-story houses. But the Baroque theater, crowned with a gilded statue of the turret, able to decorate any city.

The building, however, only seems old: built by the architect Cecil Aubrey Massey and Roy Young Theatre opened in 1910 pantomime 'Jack and Jill. " He was extremely popular between the two world wars - are playing a movie star and music hall Gracie Fields, Sybil Thorndike actress, the popular Welsh singer and composer Ivor Novello. During World War II theater building suffered some unexpected way - gilded statue of the Roman goddess of fun Letitia on his dome was too good guide for Nazi bombers. The statue was removed and hoisted into place in 1991.

In 1961, it was from here the triumphal procession through the world famous musical "Oliver! "British writer and pop composer Lionel Bart. Here in 1963 the world premiere of the musical comedy "Polgrosha" with the idol of youth of the sixties, Tommy Steele in the title role.

In 1991 and 1998, the theater was renovated. It has kept its baroque appearance and neo-classic "style of Adam brothers' interior - walls, ceilings, furniture, lamps. Now in 1670 the theater seats on three levels. This makes it the eighth largest theater in London. In addition, there is a small studio room with 80 seats, which give performances of amateurs. The same platform is used every summer the Edinburgh Festival.

Completion of the reconstruction coincided with the financial crisis of the theater, in 2003 he was for a while even closed. The situation was saved by the transition management of the company ATG, engaged in theater management. In 2004, the New Wimbledon again opened its doors. His troupe was headed by the renowned British choreographer Laurence Olivier Award winner Matthew Bourne. Under his leadership there were set musical "Blood Brothers" (for "The Corsican Brothers" by Alexandre Dumas), the rock opera "Jesus Christ - Superstar" and the musical "Cats" by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The theater is proud of its reputation as "home of London pantomime" - pantomime in the British sense, that is, children's musical comedy with uncomplicated story. Recently, in a pantomime "Aladdin's Lamp" as Jinnah made star of "Baywatch" Pamela Anderson.