Editing Piccadilly Circus (section)

===Criterion Theatre===
{{Main|Criterion Theatre}}
[[File:Canopy, Criterion Theatre - geograph.org.uk - 4367006.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Entrance canopy to the Criterion Theatre in 2015 showing ''[[The 39 Steps (play)|The 39 Steps]]'']]
The [[Criterion Theatre]], a Grade II* [[listed building]], stands on the south side of Piccadilly Circus.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1265753 |desc= Criterion Theatre |date=5 February 1970 |access-date=25 April 2025}}</ref> Apart from the box office area, the entire theatre, with nearly 600 seats, is underground and is reached by descending a tiled stairway. [[Columns]] are used to support both the dress circle and the upper circle, restricting the views of some of the seats inside.

The theatre was designed by [[Thomas Verity]] and opened as a theatre on 21 March 1874, although original plans were for it to become a concert hall. Actor and theatre proprietor [[Charles Wyndham (actor)|Charles Wyndham]] became the manager of the Criterion in 1875, and under him it became one of the leading light comedy houses in London.<ref>"Death of Sir Charles Wyndham", ''The Times'', 13 January 1919, p. 11</ref> In 1883, it was forced to close to improve ventilation and to replace gaslights with electric lights and was reopened the following year. The theatre closed in 1989 and was extensively renovated, reopening in October 1992. Recent productions at the Criterion include ''[[The 39 Steps (play)|The 39 Steps]]'', a parody play adapted from the [[The 39 Steps (1935 film)|1935 film]] by [[Alfred Hitchcock]], with the play running for nine years at the venue from 2006 to 2015.<ref>[https://www.officialtheatre.com/criterion-theatre/39-steps/review-37 "Criterion Theatre: ''The 39 Steps'' Review"]. 25 April 2025</ref>