West End's Spookiest Theatre Ghosts

The West End is haunted by a whole host of spooky spirits.

With shows such as Stranger Things: A First Shadow, The Phantom of the Opera, and Macbeth all currently performing in London, the West End is no stranger to a spooky story. But did you know that there are also ghosts that roam most West End theatres off stage too? Below are some of the cooky characters that roam the theatrical walls of London's West End.

Joseph Grimaldi- Ghost of Theatre Royal Drury Lane

With the Theatre Royal Drury Lane being the oldest working theatre in London's West End, it's no surprise that it has some ghosts roaming in the wings. Joseph Grimaldi was one of the UK's top pantomime performers, often attributed to being the creator of the modern clown. He performed at many of London's theatres, with Theatre Royal Drury Lane being one of his most regular haunts. It's said that Grimaldi requested his head be severed from his dead body before burial, and those who have worked at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane have often reported seeing a floating disembodied head in Grimaldi's famous clown make-up.

Arthur Bourchier - Rogue Spirit at Garrick Theatre

Bourchier was an actor and theatre manager in the late 19th-early 20th century. He managed many West End theatres, leading the Garrick for over 8 years. As an actor, his reputation was already deadly, with one critic describing his portrayal of Hamlet as "At last we can settle whether Bacon or Shakespeare wrote the plays. Have the coffins opened and whichever has turned in his grave is the author." Whilst Bourchier actually died of pneumonia in Johannesburg, it's said that his ghost can be seen haunting a phantom staircase in the theatre.

Eleanor Cooper - Ghost at West End's Dominion Theatre

Eleanor Cooper, affectionately called Ellie by the theatre staff, is one of two ghosts that reside at London's Dominion Theatre. Unlike a lot of the apparitions that reside in the West End, Eleanor wasn't a West End Wendy at all. In fact, Eleanor was only a teenage girl when she passed away. At 14 years old, she worked as a bartender at the Tavistock Arms which stood at a site close to the Dominion Theatre. When several burst vats of beer at the next-door brewery burst in The London Beer Flood of October 17 1814 a wall of the pub collapsed causing Cooper to suffocate. Audience and staff at the Dominion report seeing and often hearing Ellie's girlish giggles.

Violet Melnotte - Duke of York Theatre Haunter

Another ghost of a theatre manager, Violet Melnotte is said to haunt the home of current thriller Barcelona at the Duke of York Theatre. Often seen in the foyer and auditorium, it seems that Violet enjoys mingling with patrons as the buzz of an opening night fills the theatre. A cleaner of the theatre and her 6-year-old granddaughter both reported seeing a woman in a gown wearing a tiara enter the Royal Box before disappearing into thin air. The ghost supposedly spoke to the young girl whilst her grandmother was cleaning an adjacent room.

The Man in Grey - Another Theatre Royal Drury Lane Ghost

Another ghost of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is the nameless, but often spotted, Man in Grey. Wearing a grey ruffled shirt and riding cloak, The Man in Grey is a good premonition for shows that are long-running and often pushes actors into their correct positions on stage. During a renovation of the theatre in the late 1800s, the theatre contractors discovered a skeleton shrouded in grey cloth behind a wall that The Man In Grey would often disappear through. These days he can often be seen wandering through the theatre's upper circle, donning his grey riding apparel.