Catherine Street, Covent Garden — just 4 minutes on foot
The Duchess Theatre is one of Covent Garden’s most compact and characterful venues, and a night here whether you’re in for an evening of scripted chaos or genuine theatrical unpredictability deserves a proper Italian dinner to match, rather than something grabbed on the run.
La Ballerina Italian Restaurant is just 0.2 miles from the Duchess Theatre’s door on Catherine Street a 4-minute walk. It’s the closest proper Italian restaurant to the venue and has been serving Covent Garden for over 25 years. If you want your evening to start well before the curtain rises, this is where to begin it.
What’s On at the Duchess Theatre Right Now
The Play That Goes Wrong
Booking until Sunday 3 October 2027 | Tickets from £20 | Age guidance: 8+ | Running time: 2 hours, including one interval
Now in its 12th year and billed as London’s longest-running comedy, The Play That Goes Wrong is the Duchess Theatre’s headline production and one of the West End’s most enduring hits. The premise is a classic country-house whodunnit a murder at a manor, an inspector on the case — handed to the hapless, accident-prone members of the fictional Cornley Drama Society. What follows is a masterclass in stage chaos, as sets collapse, lines are fumbled and props go astray, building to what’s been widely praised as a genuinely delirious comic climax.
It’s a show that has drawn praise from names as varied as Joanna Lumley and Cate Blanchett, and it remains one of the most purely fun nights the West End has to offer.
Please note: the production contains pyrotechnics, flashing lights, loud noises, gunshots and slapstick violence, and death and murder are referenced throughout, within the comic context of the play. Performances run Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm and two Sunday performances, at 3pm and 7pm.
Families booking over the summer should note that discounted children’s tickets are currently available for performances between 25 June and 1 September, as part of the Great British Summer Savings initiative — worth asking about when you book.
White Rabbit Red Rabbit
Monday nights, until Monday 2 November 2026 | Tickets from £25 | Age guidance: 14+ | Running time: approximately 60–70 minutes, no interval
On Mondays, when The Play That Goes Wrong takes its night off, the Duchess Theatre hands its stage to something altogether different. White Rabbit Red Rabbit, by Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour, is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a fresh run of well-known names. Each night, a different performer opens a sealed envelope and reads the script for the very first time, live on stage, with no rehearsal and no director meaning every performance is genuinely unrepeatable.
Confirmed names in the current run include David Tennant, Riz Ahmed and Kathryn Hunter, among others announced week by week. It’s a shorter, more contained evening than the main house show, and its themes touching on obedience, choice and freedom of expression are considerably more serious, so it won’t suit every audience.
La Ballerina: 4 Minutes from the Duchess Door
The Duchess Theatre sits at 3-5 Catherine Street, WC2B 5LA, in the heart of Covent Garden. La Ballerina is a short walk away at 7-8 Bow Street, along Bow Street and onto Catherine Street. No tube, no taxi, no stress.
That closeness matters more than it sounds on a comedy night out. A 4-minute walk means you’re not clock-watching through your main course, and if the meal runs on a little longer than planned, you’ll still have time to spare before curtain-up.
Coming Out After the Show?
La Ballerina stays open late until 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 10:00 PM on Sundays. If you’d rather eat afterwards, the kitchen will still be running.
- The Play That Goes Wrong runs to roughly 2 hours including its interval, so a 7.30pm performance should have you at the restaurant for a table from around 9:45 PM.
- White Rabbit Red Rabbit runs to around 60–70 minutes with no interval, so a 7.30pm Monday performance finishes much earlier expect to be seated for dinner from around 8:45 PM.
Either way, a late table works comfortably within La Ballerina’s opening hours.
Vegetarian, Vegan & Gluten-Free Options
La Ballerina caters well for varied dietary requirements. Vegetarian options include the Margherita and Quattro Formaggi pizzas, Penne Arrabbiata, Ravioli di Ricotta e Spinaci, Caprese Salad and Minestrone Della Nonna. Vegan dishes are available too, including a Vegan Lasagne, and gluten-free options can be discussed with the team when you order. The restaurant is also child-friendly, with a welcoming atmosphere for families useful for anyone bringing children to The Play That Goes Wrong over the summer season.
How to Book
La Ballerina fills up on show nights, particularly at weekends and on Mondays when White Rabbit Red Rabbit’s celebrity line-up draws a keen crowd. A call or email the day before will secure your table.
📞 Phone: +44 20 7379 6659
✉️ Email: reservations@laballerina.co.uk
🌐 Online: laballerina.co.uk/reservation/
📍 Address: 7-8 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7AH
Duchess Theatre: 3-5 Catherine Street, London WC2B 5LA — 4 minutes’ walk
Whether you’re in for the scripted mayhem of The Play That Goes Wrong or the genuine unpredictability of White Rabbit Red Rabbit, La Ballerina makes the whole evening easier, tastier and a great deal more Italian.
