Menier Chocolate Factory

Menier Chocolate Factory
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Name	Menier Chocolate Factory
Address	51 Southwark Street
City	London
Country	United Kingdom

Menier Chocolate Factory is a theatre and restaurant located in Southwark, London, near the River Thames and Tate Modern. The building was originally a chocolate factory, founded by François Menier in 1870, and was converted into a theatre and restaurant in 2004 by David Babani. The theatre has hosted productions featuring Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, and Zoë Wanamaker, and has been associated with Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, and West End theatre. The Menier Chocolate Factory has also collaborated with Almeida Theatre, Young Vic, and Theatre Royal, Bath.

● History

The Menier Chocolate Factory was founded by François Menier in 1870 as a chocolate factory, and was later owned by Rowntree's and Nestle. In 2004, the building was converted into a theatre and restaurant by David Babani, with the help of Southwark Council and English Heritage. The theatre has since become a popular venue for musical theatre and play productions, featuring actors such as Simon Russell Beale, Mark Rylance, and Samantha Bond. The Menier Chocolate Factory has also hosted productions in association with Chichester Festival Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, and Theatre Royal, Stratford East.

● Productions

The Menier Chocolate Factory has hosted a wide range of productions, including musical theatre shows such as A Little Night Music and La Cage aux Folles, featuring Douglas Hodge and Kelsey Grammer. The theatre has also produced plays such as The Norman Conquests and The Real Thing, directed by Trevor Nunn and Tom Stoppard. Other notable productions include Sweet Charity, starring Tamzin O'Garro, and The Last Five Years, featuring Samantha Barks and Jonathan Bailey. The theatre has also collaborated with Royal Court Theatre, Almeida Theatre, and Young Vic on productions such as Hamlet and The Wild Duck.

● Awards and nominations

The Menier Chocolate Factory has received numerous Laurence Olivier Award nominations and wins, including Best Musical Revival for La Cage aux Folles and Best Play Revival for The Norman Conquests. The theatre has also been recognized with Evening Standard Theatre Awards and Critics' Circle Theatre Awards, with nominations for productions such as A Little Night Music and The Real Thing. The Menier Chocolate Factory has also been associated with Tony Award-winning productions, including The Norman Conquests and La Cage aux Folles, which transferred to Broadway and featured Geoffrey Rush and Douglas Hodge.

● Venue and facilities

The Menier Chocolate Factory is located in Southwark, London, near the River Thames and Tate Modern. The theatre has a seating capacity of 180 and features a thrust stage and raked seating. The building also includes a restaurant and bar, serving French cuisine and cocktails. The theatre is accessible by London Underground and National Rail, with nearby stations including Southwark tube station and London Bridge station. The Menier Chocolate Factory is also near other theatres, including the National Theatre, Young Vic, and Globe Theatre.

● Artistic directors

The Menier Chocolate Factory has been led by David Babani since its founding in 2004. David Babani has been responsible for programming the theatre's productions, including musical theatre shows and plays. The theatre has also been associated with other artistic directors, including Trevor Nunn and Tom Stoppard, who have directed productions at the Menier Chocolate Factory. The theatre has also collaborated with Royal Shakespeare Company artistic director Gregory Doran and National Theatre artistic director Rufus Norris on productions such as The Norman Conquests and The Real Thing.