The Duke of York’s theatre in London is undergoing a name change to distance itself from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Andrew, who became the Duke of York in 1986, lost his royal titles last year due to his association with the Epstein scandal. The theatre, situated on St Martin’s Lane, will soon honor the late British playwright Sir Tom Stoppard by adopting his name.

ATG Entertainment announced that renaming the theatre is a tribute to Sir Tom Stoppard, a renowned figure in British theatre who passed away at the age of 88. Initially known as the Trafalgar Square theatre, it was renamed Duke of York’s in 1895 after the then Duke of York, who later became King George V.

Andrew Rawlinson, the business director of ATG Entertainment in London, expressed that renaming the theatre in honor of Stoppard felt like a fitting way to remember his contributions to British theatre. Stoppard’s children have welcomed the name change, recognizing the significance of the tribute to their father’s legacy.

Sir Tom Stoppard’s notable works include plays like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Real Thing, and Rock ‘n’ Roll. The theatre’s signage will be updated to reflect the new name in the coming months. The decision to rename the theatre is not directly linked to Andrew or the Epstein scandal, although there have been calls for the venue to distance itself from such associations.

In the wake of Andrew’s involvement in the Epstein scandal, various landmarks and streets across the UK have removed his name. The Duke of York Stakes horse race was renamed, as well as the Duke of York pub at York station. Locals in Northern Ireland and Hellesdon have also taken steps to rename streets associated with Prince Andrew.

As the theatre transitions to its new name in honor of Sir Tom Stoppard, it marks a significant moment in British theatre history, commemorating a prolific playwright’s enduring legacy.