The historic Duke of York’s theatre in London is undergoing a name change to disassociate from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Andrew, who became the Duke of York in 1986 upon marrying Sarah Ferguson, was stripped of his title by King Charles last year amidst his connection to the Epstein scandal, despite holding the position for nearly four decades.
The renowned West End theatre on St Martin’s Lane will soon be rebranded in honor of the late British playwright Sir Tom Stoppard. ATG Entertainment announced that the renaming serves as a lasting tribute to Stoppard, who passed away at the age of 88 in November last year.
Originally known as the Trafalgar Square theatre, the venue was renamed Duke of York’s in 1895 when the duke at that time ascended to become King George V. ATG Entertainment’s London business director, Andrew Rawlinson, expressed that the decision to rename the theatre felt natural to honor Stoppard’s legacy in the British theatre scene.
Stoppard’s children, Ollie, Barny, Will, and Ed, welcomed the name change, stating that the West End held a special place in their father’s heart, and he would have been honored by the gesture. Some of Stoppard’s notable works include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Jumpers, and The Real Thing, with Arcadia currently running at the theatre.
Although the theatre owners did not explicitly link the renaming to Andrew or the Epstein scandal, a former actor at the venue advocated for the change in a letter to the Stage newspaper last fall. Following Andrew’s involvement in the scandal and subsequent arrest, various locations and landmarks across the UK have removed his name, including the Duke of York Stakes and pub in York, as well as streets and areas in Carrickfergus and Hellesdon.
The official renaming ceremony of the theatre to honor Sir Tom Stoppard is expected to take place in the coming months, marking a significant shift away from its previous association with the Duke of York.