Dame Gillian Lynne Centenary Year 2026 (Copy)
March 2026
“The Art of Theatre is Togetherness” – Dame Gillian Lynne
This year marks the centenary of Dame Gillian Lynne, a moment to honour, celebrate and pay tribute to one of the most remarkable figures in the history of British theatre.
Born on 20 February 1926, Gillian Lynne's career spanned more than seven decades. She trained as a ballet dancer, rose to become a principal at Sadler's Wells, and went on to choreograph and direct some of the most beloved and enduring musicals ever staged. Her work on CATS and The Phantom of the Opera alone has been seen by hundreds of millions of people across the world — and her choreography continues to be performed every night on stages from London's West End to Broadway and beyond.
But those who knew her will tell you that her impact extended far beyond the steps she created. Gillie was a force of nature — warm, generous, endlessly enthusiastic and utterly dedicated to the art form she loved. She inspired generations of performers, directors and choreographers, and left a legacy that is woven into the fabric of musical theatre itself.
To mark her centenary, a year of celebrations, tributes and special events has been planned, each one a reflection of the joy, passion and brilliance she brought to everything she did.
From New York to London's West End, this centenary year will bring together the people who loved Gillie, worked alongside her and continue to be inspired by her.
Follow @DameGillianLynne on Instagram to join in honouring a woman who gave so much to so many
Centenary Launch At His Majesty’s Theatre, London
February 2026
The centenary celebrations began on Gillie’s birthday at His Majesty's Theatre, London, the home of the original Phantom of the Opera. Peter Land was joined by some of Gillie's nearest and dearest for Dame Cocktails before heading in to watch the show that, night after night, continues to perform her choreography and staging.
The evening was dedicated to Gillie with a special pre-show announcement, and the night closed with a beautiful curtain call in which the Phantom delivered a heartfelt tribute to her enduring contribution to the production. The ballet girls performed a special reverence in her honour — a deeply moving moment for everyone in the audience.
Andrew Lloyd Webber - The Box Five Club Features Gillian Lynne
February 2026
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Box Five — the home of his most dedicated fans — honoured Gillie with a special takeover celebrating her life and legacy.
Celebrating The Centenary of Dame Gillian Lynne
“On the 100th anniversary of her birthday, we explore the creative life of the late, great dancer, choreographer, director and human dynamo, Dame Gillian Lynne.
It’s fitting that Gillian Lynne is the first non-royal woman to have had a West End theatre named after her, since she has unquestionably earned the status of theatrical royalty. Gillian didn’t just create landmark choreography for two of the longest-running musicals of all time – Cats and Phantom of the Opera – she fused ballet with jazz and mime to introduce a whole new dance vocabulary that changed the face of musical theatre…”
Sardi’s NEW YORK PORTRAIT
March 2026
On Thursday March 19, the honour of joining Sardi’s illustrious faces went to Dame Gillian Lynne as her portrait took its place beside the showbiz stars of the last 100 years at a ceremony in New York with many longtime friends and colleagues present.
Broadway and West End legend Jim Dale and longtime friend introduced proceedings, and Gillian’s husband, Peter Land spoke movingly about his wife and her career. A host of theatrical stars were present including Phantom of the Opera star Sierra Boggess as well many former Phantom and Cats performers.
Sardi’s tradition is that subjects sign or dedicate their portrait. Peter Land dedicated Gillian’s portrait with the quote ”Truly Now and Forever!” in memory of the love and passion Gillian had for the show Cats and the words on the original Cats poster “Now and Forever”.
Broadway's legendary joint is decorated with close to 1,000 caricatures of the most celebrated names in New York theatre - Richard Baratz has done a third of them - and counting. Ever since opening in 1927, Sardi's has had a resident artist. First on the scene was a quirky Russian émigré named Alex Gard, who sat around sketching the regulars. With an unswerving eye to business, restaurateur Vincent Sardi Sr. decided to dress his walls with stars. He made Gard an offer he was too hungry to refuse: a meal for every caricature. Gard was followed by John Mackey and then Donald Bevan before Brooklyn born Richard Baratz took over in 1974 as resident caricaturist, a role which he continues to this day.
Gillian Lynne Theatre - New Images & Video Installation
May 2026
On 11 May 2026, friends, colleagues and collaborators will gather at the theatre that bears Gillie's name to mark her centenary in the most fitting of ways. The date carries its own significance. On 11 May 1981, Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS opened at what is now the Gillian Lynne Theatre, renamed in her honour by Andrew in 2018. The show would go on to define her legacy.
The evening will mark the unveiling of two permanent tributes now installed in the theatre foyer. A specially curated short film telling the story of Gillian's life and career will play on a continuous loop, welcoming every audience who walks through the doors and introducing them to the woman behind the theatre's name. Alongside it, a newly dedicated area, Gillie's Corner, now features a beautiful collection of photography capturing Gillian in performance and in rehearsal.
The evening will celebrate her legacy with champagne, a solo performance of ‘Memory’ and the presentation of a key to the theatre's current choreographer, a tradition inspired by the original key gifted to Gillie by Andrew Lloyd Webber at the theatre renaming.
Gillian Lynne Theatre Key Presentation
May 2026
When Andrew Lloyd Webber renamed the New London Theatre in Gillian's honour in 2018, he gifted her a beautiful key to the building. It was his way of saying that this theatre, and everything that happened within it, belonged to her.
To mark her centenary, that gesture has been given a new life. A presentation key, inspired by the original, will be presented to the choreographer of each new production that comes into the Gillian Lynne Theatre, and passed on when the next production arrives. Each choreographer will also receive a smaller keepsake version of the key, something to keep long after the production has closed and the key has moved on.
It is a tradition that does two things at once. It honours Gillie and the legacy she left in the theatre, and it celebrates the choreographer standing in front of it. Choreography is so often the invisible art, the work that audiences feel without always knowing they are feeling it. The key is a recognition of that work and the people who do it, a reminder that every choreographer who steps into the Gillian Lynne Theatre is part of something that began with one of the greatest creative forces theatre has ever known.