Trafalgar Entertainment acquires Nicholas Hytner Bridge Theatre stage

Trafalgar Entertainment has acquired London’s Bridge Theatre, which was opened by former National Theater duo Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr in 2017, in a sale that also includes the Lightroom venue for immersive arts performances. Trafalgar Entertainment now owns the duo’s London Theater Company (LTC).

“After nine years, it feels like the right time to move on,” said Hytner, who called the creation of the Bridge Theater — which includes a 900-seat flexible auditorium — an “exciting experience.” Hytner has directed several Bridge songs, including the opening promenade-style production of Julius Caesar and the long-running Guys and Dolls film that ends with the audience dancing along with the actors. Away from the Bridge, Hytner recently directed Giant at the Royal Court – which transferred to the West End and Broadway – and James Graham’s new play, The Standard of Living, opens in the West End in September.

“I could not be more impressed by the artists and colleagues who were responsible for producing so many memorable shows and creating a theater that quickly became an audience favorite destination,” Hytner said. “I am extremely grateful to these fans for their enthusiasm and loyalty.”

Hytner and Starr worked together at the National Theater for more than a decade, with the former as artistic director and the latter as executive director. Starr, co-founder and outgoing CEO of LTC, said: “When we started this project, we wanted to build a theater that felt truly contemporary – flexible, aspirational and open to as many people as possible. Since then, the Bridge has become home to an extraordinary range of productions and artists and demonstrated how adaptable and flexible theater can be.”

Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire, joint founders and CEOs of Trafalgar Entertainment, said: “The Bridge is a successful and much-loved part of London’s cultural offering, and Lightroom is establishing itself as a major attraction in London. Our focus is on maintaining this momentum in both venues. We are attuned to what the Bridge means to its audiences, and what is needed to support its continued growth, development, sustainability and success – and are proud to play a part in taking the London Theater Company to its next stage, creating opportunities, And new shows – partnerships and creative collaborations with producers – are what makes them so special.

Panter and Squire founded Trafalgar Entertainment in 2017. It operates more than 20 venues in the UK and Australia, including the Trafalgar Theater in the West End and the 1,575-seat British Airways Theatre, which is due to open in west London next year.

Lightroom at King’s Cross presented immersive shows about David Hockney, Vogue and David Bowie. LTC’s next production at the Bridge, located near Tower Bridge, is The Oresteia, written and directed by Simon Stone after Aeschylus. It replaces Stone’s version of Chekhov’s Ivanov, which was postponed to summer 2027 after a “scheduling issue” for its star, Chris Pine. The Bridge’s Olivier Award-winning musical Into the Woods moves to the West End in September.