The Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End will be renamed the Judi Dench Theatre in February 2027 to honor Dame Judi Dench’s lifelong impact on the performing arts and her ties to the venue.

As part of the broader refurbishment, the renovation will restore the auditorium dome with a commissioned painting inspired by the original, refresh decorative designs, redecoration and recarpeting of the auditorium, and improvements to backstage areas.

Recent productions at the venue include & Juliet, Mrs Doubtfire, and Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical.

Separately, a street in Swindon, Dench Close, has been named in homage to Dench due to James Bond-related filming connections, though unrelated to the theatre renaming.

Dench, now 91, has spoken publicly about ageing and memory, including a macular degeneration diagnosis in 2012 that affects on-set vision, while she remains active in theatre.

Despite fewer recent stage appearances, Dench is widely regarded as deserving of a theatre named for her, and she remains in good health and high spirits.

Renaming a living person is uncommon, with notable precedent including the 2018 renaming of Gillian Lynne to the New London Theatre, marking the first West End theatre named after a woman.

The renaming reflects a broader West End trend of honouring prominent artists and expanding with new venues like @sohoplace.

Dame Judi Dench is a founding member of the Theatre of Comedy and has a seven-decade-long career with numerous awards, including an Academy Award, Tony Award, and multiple BAFTAs and Olivier Awards.

Her extensive honours include seven Olivier Awards, six BAFTAs, an Academy Award, a Tony Award, two Golden Globes, and four BAFTA TV Awards, underscoring her historic ties to the Shaftesbury venue through the Theatre of Comedy.

Additional information about the theatre and renaming is available on the Shaftesbury Theatre’s official website.