Theatre News

Southwark Playhouse secures temporary home in Elephant & Castle

Theo Bosanquet
London's West End Off-West End

Following last year’s news that Southwark Playhouse needs to move from its current premises to make room for the redevelopment of London Bridge Station, the venue has secured a new temporary space in the heart of Southwark.

The new venue – at 77-85 Newington Causeway, SE1 – is situated three minutes from Elephant and Castle tube station and six minutes from Borough.

According to a statement from the venue: “The new building is a converted 1960’s office space/warehouse which provides over 2,000 extra square feet enabling the theatre to expand from a 150-seat capacity Main House and 100-seat Vault space to a 240-seat Main House and 120-seat Studio with, for the first time in its almost 20 year history its own café, rehearsal rooms and a dedicated space for education work.”

Southwark Playhouse’s future was made uncertain in August 2011 when it was announced that the theatre would have to move from its current premises in Shipwright Yard, Tooley Street. After a high-profile campaign backed by Stephen Fry the theatre managed to secure a permanent home within the London Bridge Station development which completes in 2018, as part of a Section 106 agreement.

More details on the New Home and the Section 106 agreement are available on the website.

It marks the second time the venue has moved in recent years. Southwark Playhouse established an award-winning reputation at its
previous warehouse studio premises – less than half the size of the current
address – off Southwark Bridge Road in south London, but was forced to
vacate the venue by the landlord in 2006, when it moved to London Bridge.

Full details of the first season at the new temporary venue, where it will move after the current season finishes in January, will be announced in due course. Its production of The Seagull starring Matthew Kelly opened to press last night and runs until 1 December.