Duchess Theatre, London
The Duchess Theatre is on Catherine Street, a quiet street off the Aldwych a few minutes from Covent Garden. The Play That Goes Wrong plays here, and has done since 2014. It has 505 seats over just two levels, the Stalls and the Dress Circle, so there is no seat a long way from the stage. It sits a few doors down and over the road from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which is one of the biggest theatres in London.
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Still choosing seats? The best seats are in the middle of the Stalls, rows E to K, away from the ends of the rows. For value, take a second-price Stalls seat about a third of the way across the row: you keep the full view for less. The ends of the front rows, A to E, are the ones to think twice about.
Already booked? Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before, no later; the doors open about 45 minutes before the show. There's no lift, so it's a flight of stairs whichever level you're in: 11 steps up to the Dress Circle, 20 down to the Stalls.
Each level has its own page: the Stalls, the Dress Circle and the Boxes, with both levels side by side on the seating plan. After those come how to get here, access and the bars, restaurants, bars and hotels nearby and more about the theatre.
Quick facts
- Address: 3-5 Catherine Street, London WC2B 5LA
- Nearest tube: Covent Garden, about 6 minutes
- Capacity: 505
- Levels: Stalls and Dress Circle, plus Boxes at the back and corners of the Dress Circle
- Bars: two, in the foyer and in the Stalls
- Doors: about 45 minutes before the show. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before, no later
What's On at the Duchess Theatre
The Play That Goes Wrong is booking here until 30 January 2028. That's how far ahead tickets are on sale, not a closing date, and it has been extended before. Mischief Theatre's disaster comedy follows an amateur drama society whose murder mystery goes wrong in every way it can. It won the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and is the West End's longest-running comedy.
It plays Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm, with matinees on Saturday at 2:30pm and Sunday at 3pm, a Sunday evening at 7pm, and the odd Thursday matinee at 2:30pm. Allow 2 hours 5 minutes, including one interval. It's broad, slapstick fun that plays well for families with older children as well as adults, and it contains pyrotechnics, flashing lights, loud noises and gunshots. The show page has the full detail.
The Play That Goes Wrong doesn't play on a Monday, and the theatre fills those nights with other shows:
- White Rabbit Red Rabbit, Mondays at 7:30pm until 26 October 2026. A different actor each week performs a script they have never seen. 60 to 70 minutes, no interval, ages 14 and over
- Matt Forde's Political Party, selected Mondays from 9 November 2026 to 7 June 2027. The comedian records his podcast on stage, and each date has its own guest. Ages 12 and over
- Murder, She Didn't Write, selected Mondays from 16 November 2026 to 19 April 2027. Improvised comedy: the cast make up an Agatha Christie-style whodunnit on the spot from the audience's suggestions. Ages 12 and over
Ticket prices
For The Play That Goes Wrong, tickets start from around £20. Most seats cost from around £40 up to around £80, and premium seats start from around £100, with weekends sometimes costing more. The middle of the Stalls costs the most. All-in pricing, the price you see is what you pay. A seat sold with a restricted view is always marked, so you'll be told before you buy.
Book Duchess Theatre tickets
All-in pricing, the price you see is what you pay.
FAQs
How many seats does the Duchess Theatre have?
505: 315 in the Stalls, which sit below street level, and 180 in the Dress Circle above them, plus a few seats in the Boxes and the slip seats at the front of the Dress Circle.
Is there a dress code? Can I wear jeans and trainers?
There's no dress code. Smart-casual is the norm, and jeans and trainers are completely fine. It's a fun, informal night out, so come comfortable.
Can I take food and drink in?
Only what you buy at the theatre. Food and drink from outside isn't allowed in, apart from a sealed bottle of water, and the bars will refill it for free. There's a bar in the foyer and one in the Stalls.
Is there a cloakroom?
A small one, for bags and suitcases too big to take into the auditorium. There's a small charge, everything left is searched, and it's only open during the performance, so travel light if you can.
Can I bring children?
Yes, as long as anyone 14 or under has an adult (18 or over) in the seat beside them. A baby under 18 months comes in free as a babe in arms, though the theatre says only its family shows really suit under-2s.
What happens if I'm late?
You'll be let in at a suitable break in the performance, and that isn't guaranteed. The show doesn't publish its re-entry points, so arrive 15 to 20 minutes before, no later.
What are the Box Office opening hours?
From 12pm until the evening performance starts, on performance days. You don't have to go in person, though: book with us online or call 020 7193 9050. It's all-in pricing, so the price we tell you or you see on screen is the price you pay.
Can I book by phone?
Yes. Call us on 020 7193 9050 and a real person will help you choose seats, talk through the seating plan and book. It's the easiest way to sort group seats or anything you'd rather not work out online.
Is this the Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton?
No. This is the Duchess Theatre on Catherine Street in London's West End, WC2B 5LA, home of The Play That Goes Wrong. Long Eaton in Derbyshire has its own Duchess Theatre.