West End Sondheim Theatre’s stunning renovation revealed as Les Misérables returns to it
Sondheim Theatre, the home of the West End's Les Misérables production, has undergone a stunning renovation which has seen the stage lowered.
Cameron Mackintosh, who owns the venue, spent 20 weeks gutting the building and used 18 shades of gold in the new plaster work on the walls.
The original theatre was hit by a bomb during the Second World War which destroyed the front part of the building.
Cameron said: "What was the dowdiest creature in Shaftsbury Avenue is now the most beautiful.
"Around 70 per cent of all the plastering in the building has been redone. The ceiling and the very front of the stage are the only original bits.
"We lowered the stage and now it has collided in an extraordinary way with the auditorium, something has happened that is miraculous.
"The actors also had a renovation in the back too. The dressing rooms were the same as they were in 1907 with no toilets and no showers."
He has knocked back into the theatre to create more toilets in the auditorium and gained more seats of the intimate theatre.
Cameron has taken back the 1960's straight walls and curved them so they glide seamlessly to meet with the stage.
He's also added ornamentation to the underneath of the two circles, bringing the decoration in line with the rest of the venue.
The seats have also been redone and two boxes added named after Judi Dench and Maggie Smith.
Les Misérables has returned to the theatre following the renovation work and reopened on January 2020.
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The chandelier in auditorium has been replaced to a specially-commissioned glass chandelier.
Each level boasts its own bar which has been completely revamped to include gold trimmings and one of a kind lights.
Upstairs the small Grand Circle bar now looks larger and has ornate plaster work coated in gold.