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One of the theatre bosses said she was delighted that Dame Judi Dench's sanction would beryllium up successful lights supra the theatre doorway
The Shaftesbury Theatre successful London's West End is to beryllium renamed aft the histrion Dame Judi Dench, to observe her "unparalleled contribution" to British theatre and the performing arts.
The renaming of the venue volition besides honour Dame Judi's long-standing links with the theatre, bosses said.
The prima was a founding subordinate of the Theatre of Comedy, a corporate that staged productions determination successful the 1980s and 90s. She went connected to collaborate intimately with the theatre's owners - the Taffner household - and their accumulation company.
Dame Judi said the Shaftesbury Theatre had ever held a "special place" successful her heart, adding that the honour was "truly overwhelming".
Dame Judi is regarded arsenic 1 of the astir accomplished stage, philharmonic theatre and tv actresses of her generation, with a vocation spanning 7 decades.
Following respective years producing and starring successful Comedy of Theatre productions, she starred the BBC TV drama As Time Goes By, which ran for 9 series, and was produced by the Taffner's accumulation company.
The renaming - which volition instrumentality spot successful February adjacent twelvemonth - volition people the archetypal West End theatre to beryllium named aft an actress.
Dame Judi added: "My narration to the Theatre of Comedy and to the Taffner household goes backmost galore years and to person this beauteous theatre renamed aft maine is genuinely overwhelming.
"Live theatre continues to beryllium truthful important arsenic a mode of telling stories and entertaining audiences, thing I person aimed to bash each my moving life."
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The Shaftesbury Theatre is to beryllium renamed the Judi Dench Theatre adjacent year
The theatre's president Donald Taffner Jnr said: "We person specified fond memories of Judi astatine the Shaftesbury.
"We are truthful delighted to recognise her bonzer endowment and extended publication to galore successful the renaming of our theatre."
Chief enforcement Eleanor Lang said: "We don't observe superb women capable successful our West End theatre names, truthful we are delighted that her sanction volition beryllium everlastingly successful lights supra our doorway."
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