Soho's theatres and cinemas: from Beetlejuice to a 70mm print

Soho has more stages and screens per street than anywhere else in London. The big musicals sit on its edges, along Shaftesbury Avenue and Cambridge Circus, while the new writing, the comedy and the cult films are tucked inside. Here is where we would go, and which seat to ask for.

Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street

The one theatre right in the middle of Soho is Soho Theatre, which grew out of the Soho Poly in the early 1970s and opened in its Dean Street home, a former synagogue, in March 2000. It now runs upwards of six shows a night on three stages, new plays alongside comedy and cabaret. It is the place for a Tuesday night out with no planning. Turn up, buy whatever is on at nine, and take an end seat so you can get back to the bar.

The Prince Edward, Old Compton Street

The grand old lady of Old Compton Street opened on 3 April 1930 with a musical called Rio Rita, and was named after the then Prince of Wales. It struggled at first and spent years as a cabaret and dance hall called the London Casino, and was badly damaged in the air raid of 10 May 1941. Today it seats 1,727 and Delfont Mackintosh runs it as a musicals house, with Beetlejuice on stage. There are five bars, including the Mozart Bar at street level and a Dress Circle bar with a balcony over the street. Doors open 45 minutes before the show, and the box office opens two and a half hours before curtain up, which is useful if you are buying on the day. The bars serve drinks and snacks but no hot food, so eat first. Get there early, take your interval drink onto that balcony and watch Old Compton Street go by below.

The Palace, Cambridge Circus

The theatre that fills one side of Cambridge Circus is the Palace, at 113 Shaftesbury Avenue, with 1,434 seats. Since 2016 it has been the home of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and the family crowd at the doors on a Saturday afternoon is part of the show. Book the dress circle for the view of the stage effects.

The Lyric and the Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue

Walk west down Shaftesbury Avenue for the Lyric at number 29, which opened in 1888 and is the oldest surviving theatre on the street. Nimax lists it at 938 seats and it is the current home of Hadestown. Next door at number 31 is the Apollo, a Grade II listed house with 827 seats. These are proper Victorian and Edwardian theatres, steep and close, so the upper levels still see well. Pick the front of the circle at the Lyric for Hadestown.

Curzon Soho, 99 Shaftesbury Avenue

On the Soho side of Shaftesbury Avenue, Curzon Soho is the cinema for new independent films, with screenings well into the evening every day. It is the grown-up date: a film, a drink, then dinner on Greek Street a few minutes away. Book the last evening screening and sit in the middle of the row.

The Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place

Just south of Soho, off Leicester Square, the Prince Charles Cinema has been doing things its own way since 1991. The programme mixes new releases with double bills, silent films with live music, 35mm and 70mm prints, all-night movie marathons and its sing-a-long-a screenings. Members pay £1 for some screenings. For the full experience, book a sing-along on a Friday night and go in costume.

Picturehouse Central, Shaftesbury Avenue

At the Piccadilly Circus end of Shaftesbury Avenue, Picturehouse Central has seven screens, a members' scheme and, should the mood take you, big screen karaoke. It is the sensible choice for a new release when the others are sold out. Book a weekday matinee and take the row nearest the back.

How to plan a night

For a musical, eat early in Soho and walk to the theatre for half seven. For a play or comedy, Soho Theatre is easier and cheaper. For film, Curzon Soho for something new, the Prince Charles for something loud. Whatever you choose, finish at Bar Italia on Frith Street, which stays open until 4am, with a coffee at the counter.