Originally built in 1971 and known as the Library Theatre, the Shaw was fully refurbished in 1998; the comfortable, air conditioned and intimate 446-seat auditorium with cinema-style seating offers an excellent view of the stage from every single seat. The spacious ground floor foyer and bar area is fully accessible with direct access to the auditorium.

The theatre is, of course, named after George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950). Shaw’s plays were first performed in the 1890s. By the end of the decade he was an established playwright: he wrote 63 plays and his output as novelist, critic, pamphleteer, essayist and private correspondent was prodigious. He is known to have written over 250,000 letters.

Outside the venue is the contemporary sculpture St Joan by artist Keith Grant in recognition of Shaw’s play of the same name (1923), which is generally considered to be one of his most important works. Shaw had long considered writing about Joan of Arc, and her canonisation supplied a strong incentive. The play was an international success, and is believed to have led to his Nobel Prize for Literature.