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Soho Theatre is a theatre and registered charity primarily based in the Soho district of the City of Westminster, with auxiliary facilities at Soho Theatre Walthamstow in north-east London. It produces and presents new works of theatre, together with comedy and cabaret, across three performance spaces.
The theatre has established itself as a vital launchpad for new artists and offers commissions, attachments and residencies for both emerging and established writers. It has launched the careers of numerous screenwriters and comedians in theatre, film, TV and radio.
The theatre's programme is a mix of comedy, cabaret and theatre, with a particular focus on new writing and alternative comedy.
In 1990, the Soho Theatre Company left its original space, and produced works at the venues of the Royal Court Theatre, Riverside Studios, and the Institute of Contemporary Arts. From 1993 to 1995, it took up residence at the Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone. During this period it expanded its Writers' Development programme, and premiered the works of over 35 new writers.
In 1997, work began on a new venue for the Soho Theatre on Dean Street, after securing an £8 million Lottery grant and raising an additional £2.6 million in funds. In 2000, the building opened.
Its current executive director is Mark Godfrey and its creative director is David Luff. Following his 2018 appointment as creative director, Soho Theatre took a re-investment in commissioning and producing new plays, moving towards a producer-led playhouse model. Their creative team includes head of comedy, Steve Lock; associate directors Lakesha Arie-Angelo and Adam Brace; touring producer, Sarah Dodd and literary manager, Gillian Greer.
In 2014, the theatre was fined £20,000 for a health and safety incident in which a stage manager, Rachael Presdee, was paralysed in a fall through an unmarked balcony door on to the stage some three metres below. Compensation of £3.7 million was agreed with Presdee.
After a £30 million redevelopment, the venue opened on 1 May 2025.
The 2020 award is judged by a panel of industry experts including former Soho writers Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Arinzé Kene and Laura Wade, screenwriter Russell T Davies, actress and playwright Lolita Chakrabarti and Character 7's Stephen Garrett.
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