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Post by firefingers on Aug 12, 2016 11:44:07 GMT
I was talking to someone who works at Southwark Playhouse and their future plans and found out something interesting. This may be public knowledge, but it was news to me so I thought it was worth creating a new thread.
In a few years time there will be two seperate Southwark Playhouse sites. One site will be under London Bridge, near the old location, and will have two auditoriums. One 60 seater and one 200 seater, in a similar set up to the current temporary space in Elephant and Castle, due to close in a couple of years time. But they are also going to open a venue near to the current location on the Elephant and Castle roundabout, which will be about 350 seats and pretty much exclusively for musicals (London Bridge will be more for plays and chamber stuff). That would be a good 100-150 seats to sell on the musicals, meaning more money in, higher production values etc. Very exciting.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2016 11:53:47 GMT
Interesting, thanks! I knew the plan was that the current space was only temporary and they would be moving back to a new space as part of the new London Bridge development, but the new larger space is new news I think! I did wonder as the larger space in the new London Bridge location would be smaller than the current large space.
Wonder if the new space is part of the same development with the Mercato food market in it?
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Post by Snciole on Aug 12, 2016 12:01:20 GMT
I didn't know this! I've really enjoyed the Southwark programme over the years and it will be nice to have a full mix of plays and musicals (which I think it does really well).
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 12, 2016 15:40:07 GMT
I heard they were going to move back to their former home and have a new space in Elephant and Castle, what I was unaware of is that it was going to be such a big space dedicated to musicals.
Good luck in keeping 3 spaces going, that is a big ask especially when they are limited runs!
I am a avid theatre fan and see lots of theatre, but still miss a lot, so wonder if they ever think of transferring productions to the Bush/Tricycle/Bush and vice versa as theatre south of the river will reach a different population?
However with this news it will mean that the current home will shut and I have to say I have grown quite fond of the place.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2016 16:08:22 GMT
And who is going to be the first one to turn up at one location with tickets for a show at the other one?
At least at the NT you can head off like Zola Budd to dash from one theatre to the other if you get mistaken, knocking people out of the way as you go like a bunch of blue rinse Mary Decker's but the Southwark Playhouse? Good luck dashing from one to t'other here.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2016 18:41:18 GMT
It's only about twenty minutes at a fast walk. If they keep non-assigned seating, then people should be turning up early enough to nip over to the other, though they'll not be as far forward in the queue as they may like.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 13:38:35 GMT
Does the current theatre also have a space similar to the vault in the previous one? I think that was a very charming theatre space.
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Post by Jan on Aug 13, 2016 14:27:29 GMT
Didn't know that. I had heard different stories about them eventually going to London Bridge or Elephant & Castle and did not know what the actual plan was. Good luck to them but it sounds ambitious given some of the small audiences they have had when I've been to their current temporary location - the old place was so small it was usually full. Needs a strong AD.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 14:40:11 GMT
Are there any other theatres in London with the same type of configuration as the Southwark Playhouse ad the King's Cross theatre, where the audience is seated on both sides of the stage?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 14:50:06 GMT
Are there any other theatres in London with the same type of configuration as the Southwark Playhouse ad the King's Cross theatre, where the audience is seated on both sides of the stage? Southwark Playhouse changes seating configurations all the time, the Menier Chocolate Factory often have productions in traverse, as I believe it's called, too. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 15:19:53 GMT
Are there any other theatres in London with the same type of configuration as the Southwark Playhouse ad the King's Cross theatre, where the audience is seated on both sides of the stage? Southwark Playhouse changes seating configurations all the time, the Menier Chocolate Factory often have productions in traverse, as I believe it's called, too. Thanks  |
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Post by Jan on Aug 14, 2016 7:29:33 GMT
Are there any other theatres in London with the same type of configuration as the Southwark Playhouse ad the King's Cross theatre, where the audience is seated on both sides of the stage? Southwark Playhouse changes seating configurations all the time, the Menier Chocolate Factory often have productions in traverse, as I believe it's called, too. Yes have seen it used there. Also Cottesloe, Young Vic, Barbican (reconfigured for Cheek by Jowl). It is not that uncommon. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 8:17:14 GMT
But, if Pointone was hoping to make regular trips to a theatre which is permanently in long traverse, they will be disappointed that none exists!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 8:47:26 GMT
But, if Pointone was hoping to make regular trips to a theatre which is permanently in long traverse, they will be disappointed that none exists! No, I was just wondering if it there were many theatres that use this kind of configuration. I've never actually seen a show in long traverse, but I think it can be very interesting for some shows. |
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Post by martin1965 on Aug 14, 2016 11:20:56 GMT
Well as others have said good luck with operating two sites not adjacent on the off westend circuit! Its ambitious but....
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Post by Jan on Aug 14, 2016 11:26:30 GMT
But, if Pointone was hoping to make regular trips to a theatre which is permanently in long traverse, they will be disappointed that none exists! I always assumed the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh was intended to be in this format, originally at least. If not why did they name it so ? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 16:24:22 GMT
The original Traverse Theatre in Lawnmarket probably was what we call "traverse". Apparently, the founder mistakenly believed its seating was "traverse" and only realised it was actually "transverse" when it was too late to change the theatre's name because everyone was already familiar with "Traverse Theatre".
The Traverse Theatre moved to Grassmarket in 1969 and this new theatre had flexible seating arrangements, usually a sort of thrust like in the current Traverse 2 in their purpose-built theatre they moved to in 1992. The current Traverse 1 is a sort of mini-Olivier.
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Post by adrianics on Aug 15, 2016 11:19:11 GMT
As long as their big musical-dedicated space has as good a bar as the temporary digs... I am in favour |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 14, 2018 12:04:32 GMT
Walking around the swanky looking bridge area made wonder what are the theatres plans. The fountain of knowledge Wiki tells me 2018 but does anyone know anything else ?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 14, 2018 12:08:28 GMT
Merged
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Post by HereForTheatre on Mar 3, 2018 10:31:18 GMT
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Post by tmesis on Mar 3, 2018 11:11:54 GMT
I loved its old location but have now got to like its current Elephant and Castle presence.
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Post by firefingers on Mar 3, 2018 11:15:00 GMT
Current building was only on a five year lease to allow for the rebuild at London Bridge. The current building is being demolished for housing.
Will be interesting to see what they do with the new spaces, what lessons have been learned from the last build etc, and what shows will they programme to open the new space and really show it off.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Mar 3, 2018 11:39:11 GMT
Along with the refurbished Tricycle, The Bush and now Southwark the small off West End Theatres are eclipsing the facilities at most of the traditional venues.
This fits in perfectly with my preference for staying away from the West End Theatres, is being allergic to Proscenium Arches and ornate ceilings a recognised theatrical condition?
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Post by martin1965 on Mar 3, 2018 14:27:14 GMT
Along with the refurbished Tricycle, The Bush and now Southwark the small off West End Theatres are eclipsing the facilities at most of the traditional venues. This fits in perfectly with my preference for staying away from the West End Theatres, is being allergic to Proscenium Arches and ornate ceilings a recognised theatrical condition? Just wish the Tricycle would get on with announcing their new season! The facilities better be good, its taken flipping long enough😧 |
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