George Bernard Shaw at Whitehall Court. During the first decade of the twentieth century, Shaw secured a firm reputation as a playwright. In 1904 J. E. Vedrenne and Harley Granville-Barker established a company at the Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square, Chelsea to present modern drama. Over the next five years they staged fourteen of Shaw's plays. The first, "John Bull's Other Island", a comedy about an Englishman in Ireland, attracted leading politicians and was seen by Edward VII, who laughed so much that he broke his chair. The play was withheld from Dublin's Abbey Theatre, for fear of the affront it might
Shaw Theatre French hotel chain AccorHotels. It was originally known as the "Library Theatre"; its current name is in honour of George Bernard Shaw. After the 1998 refurbishment, the Shaw has 446 seats and two large foyers, four large dressing rooms for up to 60 people and extensive high quality backstage facilities which include a workshop space and laundry facilities. Notable musicians, actors and comedians who have performed at the Shaw Theatre include Dionne Warwick, Kerry Ellis, Eartha Kitt, Boy George, Van Morrison, Harry Connick Jr., Ron Moody, and Janie Dee whose concert included a surprise performance by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.