sports
London’s Shaftesbury theatre to be renamed after Judi Dench
James Bond actor, who is only the second non-royal woman to be celebrated in this way, called the honour ‘truly overwhelming’
TL;DR
- The Shaftesbury Theatre will be renamed the Judi Dench Theatre in February 2027.
- Dame Judi Dench is the second non-royal woman to have a West End theatre renamed after her.
- The theater's management cited her "unparalleled contribution to British theatre and the performing arts."
- Dench has a long history with the Shaftesbury, including a past association with the Theatre of Comedy Company.
- The renaming follows a renovation of the theatre.
- The first West End theatre to honor a woman was the New London Theatre, renamed the Gillian Lynne Theatre in 2018.