The Savoy Theatre, built by Richard D'Oyly Carte, opened Oct. 10, 1881 in order to showcase the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. This theatre was the first theatre, as well as public building in the world, to be lit by electricity in its entirety. Around 1,200 incandescent lamps were used. It also had gaslights installed for backup purposes, but they were not used often. The Savoy Hotel, also built by D'Oyly Carte, went up next to the theatre in 1889.

The theatre was, for many years, home to the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and the Carte family ran it for more than a century. D'Oyly Carte's son, Rupert, modernized and rebuilt the theatre in 1929 and in 1993, following a fire, it was rebuilt again. The original design for the theatre was came from C.J. Phipps.

It closed in 1903 and reopened in February 1904 with John Leigh and Edward Laurillard acting as managers. They remained in the managerial positions until December 1906, when the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company returned to the site for repertory seasons between 1906 and 1909. At this point, C.H. Workman took over the manager position until 1911.

The theatre was managed by George Augustus Richardson from November 1911 to Feburary 1915, at which point D'Oyly Carte's son, Rupert D'Oyly Carte, took over. Rupert decided to bring the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company back to the theatre at this time and he also hired Malcolm Sargent and Geoffrey Toye as guest conductors and Isidore Godfrey and Harry Norris as musical directors.

Savoy Theatre was closed June 3, 1929, and the interior of the building was rebuilt completely. The original capacity of the theatre was 1,292, but was reduced to 986 by 1912. The new theatre designed allowed for 1,200 people. The theatre was reopened Oct. 21, 1929, and presented a production of "The Gondoliers."

Gilbert and Sullivan seasons ran at the Savoy Theatre on and off from 1929 to 2003. The theatre also featured "Blithe Spirit" in 1941, which ran for 1,997 consecutive performances.

Management of the theatre went to Sir Hugh Wotner in 1948. The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company ceased operations in 1982 and the last heir of the D'Oyly Carte family died in 1985, effectively ending the family line.

During renovations in 1990, a fire destroyed the building, sans the stage and backstage area. It reopened July 19, 1993, and the newly rebuilt theatre currently seats 1,158. During the renovations, a swimming pool was added above the stage and another story was added about the theatre.

Since 1993, some shows at the theatre have included "Relative Values," "Travesties," the musical "She Loves Me," "Dead Funny," and "Coward's Hay Fever." In 2000, the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company was shortly reconstituted and produced "H.M.S. Pinafore" and "Pirates of Penzance." The company followed these with "The Barber Seville" in 2004.

Currently, the theatre (located at The Strand, Westminster, London, WC2R 0ET), is showing Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel," a show which debuted Nov. 29, 2008.