Financed by playwright W. S. Gilbert (of Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas), the theatre was designed by Walter Emden with C. J. Phipps. During construction, architects discovered an underground river on the site.
In its early years, the Garrick specialised in melodrama before becoming known for its comedies, including a four year run of No Sex Please, We’re British.
The theatre became part of the Nimax Theatres group in 2005 when it was acquired by Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer.
