The billionaire entertainment mogul and arts philanthropist Sir Leonard Blavatnik has bought one of London’s oldest and grandest theatres.
Blavatnik’s company Access Entertainment, headed by Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC Television, announced it had purchased the Theatre Royal Haymarket for an undisclosed sum.
It promised to put high-quality performance at the heart of the theatre, “encouraging both much-loved and emerging talent to express their creativity”.
Cohen said: “London’s West End is a world-leading powerhouse of artistic talent and through this acquisition we will contribute to its ongoing success. When it comes to great talent the boundaries between film, television and theatre have never been more porous, so this acquisition creates great opportunities for Access Entertainment across the world.”
The theatre has an interesting history going back to 1720. It opened in its current John Nash-designed grade I-listed building in 1821 with a production of Sheridan’s The Rivals followed by a season which included Edmund Kean as King Lear.
In the 19th century it premiered two of Oscar Wilde’s most famous plays, A Woman of No Importance and An Ideal Husband, with Wilde watching from the royal box.
Actors including Ralph Richardson, Peggy Ashcroft, Charles Laughton, Vivien Leigh and Flora Robson all appeared on its stage in the 20th century, and during the Blitz Gielgud took up residence in a dressing room for weeks on end, acting as fire marshal.
Since the 1970s it has been owned and run by three generations of the same family after the lease was acquired by Louis I Michaels and his partner Enid Chanelle. In January Arnold Crook, Chanelle’s son-in-law, announced they were selling.
The Ukraine-born Blavatnik, whose portfolio includes Warner Music Group, is one of Britain’s richest men. He has been a regular and generous donor to the arts with Tate Modern’s extension and V&A new Exhibition Road entrance named after him following his donations, which exceeded £55m.
Blavatnik said: “The UK is home to many of the world’s most remarkable artistic talents. We are proud to be the new owners of the Theatre Royal Haymarket and will continue its long tradition of excellence.”