United Kingdom, June 17 -- Dame Judi Dench is to be immortalised in London's West End with a theatre renamed in her honour.

The Shaftesbury Theatre will be known as the Judi Dench Theatre from February 2027 to recognise her "extraordinary talent and extensive contribution" to the arts while the renaming also celebrates Judi's links to the venue.

Judi said in a statement: "The Shaftesbury theatre has always held a special place in my heart. My relationship to the Theatre of Comedy and to the Taffner family goes back many years, and to have this beautiful theatre renamed after me is truly overwhelming.

"Live theatre continues to be so important as a way of telling stories and entertaining audiences, something I have aimed to do all my wo...