The Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End will be renamed the Tom Stoppard Theatre, honoring the celebrated playwright.
Andrew Rawlinson, ATG Entertainment's business director in London, stated that naming the theatre after Stoppard, who died in November 2025, "felt like the right and natural way to keep him among us." He added that Stoppard "gave the British theatre some of its most brilliant and best loved work, and he did it with a wit and a humanity that audiences carried home with them."
Stoppard's children, Ollie, Barny, Will, and Ed Stoppard, welcomed the announcement, expressing their belief that their father "would be thrilled and humbled in equal measure by this great honour" as the West End was close to his heart.
Among Stoppard's notable plays are "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," "Jumpers," "Travesties," "The Real Thing," "The Invention of Love," "The Coast of Utopia," "Rock 'n' Roll," and "Leopoldstadt." His play "Arcadia" is currently being performed at the theatre.
The theatre, which opened in 1892, has a history that includes the 1904 premiere of J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan" and a 1905 appearance by Charlie Chaplin. Renowned actors such as Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Helen Mirren, Glenda Jackson, and Michael Gambon have performed on its stage.
The decision to rename the theatre follows a trend of name changes associated with the former Prince Andrew. For example, the Duke of York Stakes horse race is now the Minster Stakes, and the Duke of York pub at York station was renamed the Line and Whistle. Additionally, street names like Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus and Prince Andrew's Road in Hellesdon have faced reviews or changes.
A letter published in The Stage newspaper last autumn by a former actor at the Duke of York's had previously suggested it was time for the theatre to be renamed. The theatre's signage is expected to be updated to the new name in the coming months.