Off West End refers to theatres in London which are not included as West End theatres . The term is a relatively recent one, coined after the similar American term " off-Broadway " (though without the same strict definition). It is usually used synonymously with the more widespread term Fringe (or, specifically, "the London Fringe"), but sometimes is also used to refer to more mainstream or commercial theatre which is located within London but outside the centre, or to especially small and non-commercial theatres located within the centre. According to London Theatre, "Smaller theatres, including many pub theatres, are called Fringe, although some of these small theatres are also called Off West End, particularly those located in the West End of London , where most of the big commercial theatres are. These small theatres can vary in size, with seating capacities of around 40 to 400."
3-611: The Charing Cross Theatre is an Off West End theatre under The Arches off Villiers Street below Charing Cross station. Founded in 1936, the venue occupied several premises in the West End of London before locating to its present site. The current site, from1946 to 2002, presented Victorian-style music hall under the name Players' Theatre . It was refurbished in 2005 and reopened under new management in 2006 as The New Players Theatre , before being taken under new management by Broadway producer Steven M. Levy and Sean Sweeney in 2011, when
6-547: The theatre changed its name to the Charing Cross Theatre, with the Players Bar & Kitchen. It is one of the smallest West End Theatres, rebuilt to meet the demands of national and international producers wanting a theatre which offers a degree of intimacy and is the equivalent in size of an off-Broadway space. With the appointment of Thom Southerland as Artistic Director in 2016, Charing Cross Theatre announced it
9-716: Was turning into a producing house launching with a number of major musicals. Off West End While West End Theatres must register with the Society of London Theatre , SOLT membership for the Off West End is entirely optional and is not widespread. The industry organisations for Off West End and Fringe venues are OffWestEnd, the London Theatre Consortium (larger venues), and the Society of Independent Theatres (smaller venues). The Off West End Theatre Awards , known as
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