Novello Theatre, London
The Novello Theatre is on Aldwych, where Covent Garden meets the Strand, and it has been the home of MAMMA MIA! since 2012. There are 1,085 seats, over four levels.
Still choosing seats? The Stalls are the level to book, and the reason is unusual. The Dress Circle here is set high enough to clear the rear Stalls, so the view holds up right to the back row. The overhang problem at this theatre is upstairs: from about row E of the Dress Circle and row D of the Grand Circle, the level above starts to take the top of the stage.
Already booked? The Stalls start at row C, because there is no row A or B, so if you've asked for the front row you're in row C. No level has a central aisle, so you reach every seat from the end of its row. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before, no later.
Each level has its own page: the Stalls, the Dress Circle, the Grand Circle and the Balcony, with all four side by side on the seating plan, and a page on whether the Boxes are worth it. After those come how to get here, access and the bars, restaurants, bars and hotels nearby and more about the theatre.
Quick facts
- Address: 5 Aldwych, London WC2B 4LD
- Nearest tube: Covent Garden, 5 to 7 minutes
- Capacity: 1,085
- Levels: Stalls, Dress Circle, Grand Circle and Balcony, plus four Boxes
- Steps: the Dress Circle is at street level; the Stalls are about 40 steps down
- Doors: bars and foyers usually open 45 minutes before
- Run by: Delfont Mackintosh Theatres
What's On at the Novello Theatre
MAMMA MIA! is the resident show, and booking currently runs to Saturday 2 October 2027, which is a booking-until date rather than a closing date.
It's set on a Greek island and built on more than twenty ABBA songs, and it turns on a bride who has invited three men to her wedding without telling her mother which of them she thinks is her father. It plays Monday to Saturday at 7:30pm, with matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 3pm. It runs 2 hours 35 minutes, including a 15-minute interval, and it's recommended for ages 5 and over.
It is one of the easiest shows in London to book for a mixed group, because everybody already knows the songs and nobody needs to have done any homework. Hen parties, grandparents and small children all end up in the same rows.
Find MAMMA MIA! tickets, or call us on 020 7193 9050 for seat advice on any date.
Ticket prices
Midweek is where the cheap seats are. Tickets start from around £20 on a Monday to Thursday and rise to around £195 for the best seats in the house. At the weekend the two cheapest price bands come off sale entirely, so the cheapest ticket roughly doubles, to around £40, while the best seats barely move. If you're buying at the cheap end, book midweek. All-in pricing, the price you see is what you pay.
Book Novello Theatre tickets
All-in pricing, the price you see is what you pay.
Novello Theatre FAQs
How many seats does the Novello Theatre have?
1,085, over four levels: 479 in the Stalls, 257 in the Dress Circle, 218 in the Grand Circle and 131 in the Balcony, with the Boxes counted in the level they sit on. Fewer than half the seats are in the Stalls; the rest are stacked above them on three levels.
Is the Novello the old Strand Theatre?
Yes. It was the Strand Theatre for most of the twentieth century and was renamed the Novello in 2005. Same building, same address on Aldwych, same seats.
Has MAMMA MIA! always been at the Novello?
No. It has had three West End homes: the Prince Edward from April 1999, the Prince of Wales from 2004, and the Novello since September 2012.
Is there a dress code?
No, so wear what you're comfortable in. Some people do dress up for MAMMA MIA!, and a few go as far as fancy dress, so you won't be the only one who has made an effort.
Can I take food or drink in?
Not from outside: food and drink bought elsewhere isn't allowed in. The bars sell drinks and snacks, but no hot food, and drinks bought at the bar can go to your seat in a plastic cup.
Can I pay with cash?
No. The theatre is cashless, so bring a contactless card for the bars.
Can I bring children?
Yes, from age 3: under-3s aren't admitted, everyone needs their own ticket, and under-16s must sit next to someone aged 18 or over.
What is the bag policy, and is there a cloakroom?
Bags are checked on the way in. The cloakroom takes coats and small bags for a small charge, but it can't take larger bags or suitcases, so don't arrive with a case.
Can I buy tickets at the Box Office?
Yes. The Box Office opens 2 hours 30 minutes before each performance and stays open until 15 minutes after curtain up, and on matinee days it stays open between the two shows. Book with us instead and it's all-in pricing, so the price you see is what you pay.
Can I book by phone?
Yes. Call us on 020 7193 9050 and we'll tell you what's actually free on your date, which seats are the better buy for your budget, and what the difference between two prices gets you. The price we tell you on the phone is the price you pay.