The Menier Chocolate Factory is a 180-seat Off-West End theatre, which comprises a bar and theatre offices.
It is located at the rear of a former 1870s Menier Chocolate Company factory at 53 Southwark Street, a major street in the London Borough of Southwark, central south London, England, some 2.5km from the theatrical West End. The theatre stages plays and musicals, live music and stand-up comedy. According to the Evening Standard, it is "one of the most dynamic fringe venues in London".[1]
History and awards
The French Menier Chocolate Company expanded overseas and built a five-storey factory and warehouse of brick with stone dressings in London between 1865 and 1874. It was listed Grade II in 1996.[2]
The Menier Chocolate Factory was opened in 2004 in its current incarnation. It is within a purpose built space at the rear of the factory, connecting through the adjoining buildings. The artistic director is David Babani.[3] In 2005, the theatre received the Peter Brook/Empty Space Up and Coming Venue Award. In the same year, he and co-founder Danielle Tarento jointly won the Evening Standard Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer. Tarento left in 2006 to pursue a solo producing career, and was replaced by General Manager Thomas Siracusa.[citation needed]
At the 2009 Olivier Awards, Douglas Hodge won the trophy for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Albin in La Cage aux Folles. The production also won the Best Musical Revival category.[citation needed]
In 2010, the Chocolate Factory productions of A Little Night Music and La Cage aux Folles opened on Broadway, the former starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Angela Lansbury and the latter starring Douglas Hodge (from the original London production) and Kelsey Grammer. At the Tony Awards in 2010, the shows won in the following categories: Best Leading Actress in a Musical – Catherine Zeta Jones for A Little Night Music; Best Leading Actor in a Musical– Douglas Hodge for La Cage aux Folles; Best Director of a Musical– Terry Johnson for La Cage aux Folles; Best Musical Revival– La Cage aux Folles.[citation needed]
The theatre continues to produce a mixture of musical and play revivals, new writing and comedy.
The Boy Friend by Sandy Wilson from 22 November – 7 March 2020. Directed by Matthew White. Transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre (Toronto, Canada) from March 2020.[39]
