The Thorndike Theatre was designed by Roderick Ham and named after the actress Dame Sybil Thorndike. It was opened in 1969 by Princess Margaret. Formerly the site of the Crescent Cinema, the Thorndike replaced the old repertory theatre at No. 27 High Street, whcih itself had also previously been a cinema. The theatre was reopened as The Leatherhead Theatre in April 2001 and had been staging productions ever since.