All change at the Arts Theatre?

[n1david]

Story in last night's Standard.  (Unfortunately, not online - the links to it all come up "Page Not Found").  But you can see it through the ES app on a smartphone or tablet if you didn't get last night's paper.

Developer wants to rebuild the Arts Theatre - tear down everything but the facade, and replace the current 350-seat theatre with a 320-seat flexible subterranean space.

Developer has an agreement with "leading West End producer" PW Productions to be its theatre operator, and they have committed to staging 320 performances a year, but opponents of the scheme say the lack of a fly tower will "massively impact on the ability of the theatre to stage productions".

I'm a bit in two minds about this.  The Arts Theatre has struggled to find a niche over the last few years, and there have been some duff things there, but there have also been some successes and I like the venue.  But reconfiguring into a flexible space could make it another target for transfers from the fringe which could be a good thing.

Scheme goes in front of Westminster's planning committee today with a recommendation for approval.

[firefingers]

The article has been pulled but you can still veiw the google cache version webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:LIbEVLoqRqoJ:www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/the-arts-theatre-in-covent-garden-to-move-underground-a3222561.html+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

The Arts, as it is, is a stain on the West End to be honest. The coffee shop that is supposedly the foyer, the lack of air conditioning (I could feel my eyes melting during American Idiot, and I'm told some crew operated the show in their underwear due to the extreme heat), and other more "professional" concerns mean it is a place I wouldn't patronise again in its current state. I don't see the lack of fly tower being too much of an issue, as the flys have been barely used on every production I have seen there. I think it is a good idea, or at least worth a shot.

[schuttep]

The razing of this site has been proposed, and planning permission refused, several times. But this incarnation includes a new theatre, which the others didn't, and which the authorities wanted to keep on the site.

Many theatres don't have fly towers - pub theatres, Donmar, St James, Barbican theatre (converted theirs into a conservatory) I believe.

[galinda]

Is this theatre always like an oven or did I just go on the hottest day of the year?

American idiot was unbearable - not sure if I hated the show or if the fact it was so hot in there I couldn't enjoy it.

[theatre-turtle]

Apr 12, 2016 12:38:32 GMT galinda said:

Is this theatre always like an oven or did I just go on the hottest day of the year?

American idiot was unbearable - not sure if I hated the show or if the fact it was so hot in there I couldn't enjoy it.

It was boiling when I went too. The first time I slept through most of a musical (American Idiot)

[viserys]

I didn't think it was particularly hot when I saw American Idiot (wasn't summer anymore though) but I was shocked at the overall state of shabbyness of the theatre. It kinda fit with the show but I'd welcome a small clean nice new theatre on the site, something along the lines of the Donmar Warehouse down the street.

[Deleted]

Would be a shame to see it go as it has a lot of history (Waiting for Godot etc) but yes, it's in a disgusting state. The gents loos are particularly vile.

Is the bar still run by the guys who won the final series of "The Restaurant"?

[jaqs]

The upstairs space was unbearably hot and the main theatre needs something to happen.

[Jon]

Is the facade listed? I think the Arts has struggled to find it place against the big commercial theatres and subsidied theatres like the Donmar so a new theatre is a good thing,

[Deleted]

Any theatre that has the nerve to put on that Josefina Gabrielle "comedy" from a few years back deserves saving IMO!

[loureviews]

Going this week to the hothouse.

[freckles]

Article about it here:
www.thestage.co.uk/news/2016/pw-productions-to-run-londons-arts-theatre-with-focus-on-good-plays/?utm_content=buffer7e985&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

New auditorium and a focus on plays, according to The Stage...

[Deleted]

To be specific, they will focus on "good plays" which sounds like a sensible move. Presumably there were rival bidders who planned to focus on "sh*te plays".

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2016 16:31:01 GMT @xanderl said:

To be specific, they will focus on "good plays" which sounds like a sensible move. Presumably there were rival bidders who planned to focus on "sh*te plays".

Yes, there are quite a few of those, I feel. Although we would all disagree over which.

[Phantom of London]

I still haven't forgiven them after last year, when they forced people to queue in the rain (typhoon proportions), instead of opening their doors for American Idiot, until 10 minutes before the curtain.

I agree with Xanderi that their toilets are awful and the worst in London.

Instead of having 2 performing spaces they should just have the one and focus on quality. What they say about just doing 'plays' is commendable, lots of good plays don't make it to London and there is a great back catalogue to perform. As Honoured Guest says "Although we would disagree over which", I might disagree with some artistic choices, but it wouldn't stop me from seeing the merit and coming round of doing something, if it makes sense. Take what is playing at the moment the 'Moses thingy', which was described in reviews as the 'Jewish Spamalot' and consequentially got panned, but if it got 4/5 star reviews, just try keeping me away. But I would never criticise the Arts theatre with taking artistic gamble, even though it didn't pay off and ultimately didn't appeal to me.

I am sure there could be a market for stuff like classic comedy 'Run For Your Wife' or 'No Sex Please, We're British'.

[n1david]

This has got the go-ahead so the Arts Theatre as it is will close at the end of the year:
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/covent-garden-entertainment-hub-to-replace-arts-theatre-after-eightyear-battle-a3229521.html

A few tweaks including an increase in theatre size to 400 people.

The plans include big ideas for being an all-evening destination with restaurant and "the largest bar in Theatreland".

I just hope all the focus on the ancillary facilities doesn't compromise the theatre - all the focus on bringing in additional revenue can mean compromises in theatre design (I'm looking at you, St James)

[djdan14]

Looks like plans finally moving forward with this with this!

www.whatsonstage.com/news/plans-to-refurbish-and-upgrade-west-ends-arts-theatre-given-the-green-light_1623871/?

[Someone in a tree]

The location is great and the so is the size of venue. It desperately needs an overhaul, i just hope its heart remains.

[anita]

Let's hope they improve the toilets.

[Someone in a tree]

Oct 2, 2024 9:53:28 GMT anita said:

Let's hope they improve the toilets.

Some would say they're Immersive while others argue its a metaphor for the Choir of man

[Phantom of London]

They say in an event of a nuclear attack, that the cockroaches survive.

[tmesis]

Now they just need to sort out the other flea pit: Charring Cross Theatre.

[ThereWillBeSun]

Agreed. Petition? 🤣