The architect Walter Emden designed this theatre, which was originally called the Trafalgar Square Theatre. It was renamed the Duke Of York’s Theatre in 1895, but has also played host to the Royal Court Theatre Downstairs, whose named it took on for a number of years in the late 1990’s. The Duke of York’s theatre is small in size, with an original capacity of 900 that has since been reduced to 640. The venue has shown a variety of plays, including Shirley Valentine and Richard Harris’ Stepping Out.