The Stage

Arcola calls for £150k public support as it is forced to move premises

Published Thursday 30 September 2010 at 11:39 by Alistair Smith

London’s Arcola Theatre has unveiled plans to move later this year and is launching a £150,000 fundraising project to help redevelop its new base at the Colourworks factory near Dalston Junction train station.

The Arcola has been housed in a former textile factory since it was founded in 2000 by artistic director Mehmet Ergen. However, it now has to leave its base on Arcola Street in north London, after the owner of the building decided to convert the site into a block of luxury flats.

The company’s final production at its current home will be Marc Blitzstein’s The Cradle Will Rock, directed by Ergen and running until December 18. It will then move into the Colourworks factory, which it will lease from Hackney council, reopening on January 7, with a work by Rebecca Lenkiewicz about the history of the building.

Ergen explained that the Arcola plans to recreate the feel of its current home at the new site. The £150,000 will enable the company to construct a main-house theatre with 200 seats and an enlarged second studio with a capacity of 100. A third studio space will be created to house the Arcola’s youth and community programme. The new venue will also feature “much improved” office space, as well as rehearsal rooms, a cafe and space for Arcola Energy - the company’s development work with green-technology.

“We were trying to negotiate to stay at the Arcola Street premises, but the landlords are moving very fast with wanting to put flats on top, so they gave us our notice and we need to leave by this Christmas.

“We’re creating a new space, we’re not just using it as it is. We’re taking the floor out to make a much higher ceiling and a much-improved main space. It will be a big step up for the Arcola.

“The great advantage will be being right opposite Dalston Junction overground - its catchment is much better in terms of marketing and being right in the centre of town now. But the feeling will be the same, it will still have the old feel.”

Last year, the Arcola announced plans to develop the UK’s first environmentally-friendly arts campus, including a theatre constructed from straw bale.

This will mark the second stage of the Arcola’s planned redevelopment and will be in addition to the new base at the Colourworks factory, although Ergen admitted it was unlikely to happen for “a few years”.

He also said that this is the first time the Arcola had launched a public appeal in its ten-year history and stressed that the move was “necessary”.

Donations of any size are welcome and for donations of £50 or more the donor will be recognised as an Arcola supporter by having their name painted on a wall in the new building and included on the Arcola website.

www.arcolatheatre.com