Arcola Theatre is an Off West End theatre in the London Borough of Hackney. It presents plays, operas and musicals featuring established and emerging artists. The theatre building, in the former Colourworks paint factory on Ashwin Street, Dalston, houses two studio theatre spaces, two rehearsal studios and a café-bar. The theatre runs one of East London's most extensive arts engagement programmes, creating over 5000 opportunities for the local community every year. Since 2007 the 'Green Arcola' project has aimed to make Arcola the world's first carbon-neutral theatre. They have fitted solar panels, DC power grids and now carbon-neutral heating to make their building more sustainable.
Arcola Theatre was founded by artistic director Mehmet Ergen, in September 2000. Its original location was a former textile factory on Arcola Street in Dalston. The theatre celebrated this with its fifth anniversary production, The Factory Girls by Frank McGuinness. In January 2011 the Arcola moved to a former paint-manufacturing workshop on Ashwin Street in Dalston, after its previous landlord earmarked the Arcola Street site for redevelopment as apartments. It marked the move by premiering The Painter, a play about J. M. W. Turner by Rebecca Lenkiewicz.
Since its inception the theatre has twice won the Peter Brook Empty Space Award and was awarded Time Out Live Awards in 2003 and 2006. In 2007, an Arcola co-production of Mojo Mickeybo by Owen McCafferty became its first West End transfer to the Trafalgar Studios. 2007 also marked the first season of the Arcola's Grimeborn, an opera and musical theatre festival that runs for two weeks in August.
In their two theatre spaces, Arcola presents major artists alongside cutting-edge work from some of the most exciting emerging companies. Arcola has been a launch pad for artists including Rebecca Lenkiewicz and Alecky Blythe (who had their first plays produced here), Lyndsey Turner, Lucy Kirkwood and Joe Sims. World-renowned playwrights including Bonnie Greer, Frank McGuinness and Sam Shepard have premiered work at Arcola. Actors including Linda Bassett, Clare Higgins, Greg Hicks, Geraldine James, Gemma Jones, Kathyrn Hunter, David Bamber and Toby Jones have all appeared on their stages. In 2015 Arcola was nominated for 9 Off West End awards – more than any other London theatre.
Arcola’s programme is locally engaged and internationally minded. They believe that diversity makes for better art, and for a more flourishing arts scene. Every year through Arcola Lab, they provide 28 weeks of free rehearsal space to emerging, ethnically-diverse artists. Two-thirds of the productions in their last season were led by women as writers, directors and producers, and one-third of their productions are by diverse artists.
Arcola delivers one of London’s most extensive community engagement programmes, creating over 11,000 opportunities every year across youth, community, schools and talent development programmes. They are committed to affordable ticket pricing – no ticket is more than £22, and you can pay what you can on Tuesday evenings. Arcola Passport makes a trip to the theatre £12 or less.
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Ordinarily, Arcola Theatre’s main building is fully wheelchair accessible. They accommodate wheelchairs in both studios as well as in Their rehearsal rooms.
Foyer – Step-free access to the foyer/box office area from the street.
Bar – Step-free access by lift from the foyer area.
Studio 1 – Step-free access from Ashwin Street.
Studio 2 – Step-free access by lift from the foyer.
Studios 3 and 4 – Step-free access by lift from the foyer.
Toilets – All toilets are on the lower level. Step-free access by lift from the foyer.
In order for them to best serve your needs, please inform the box office prior to your visit if you have specific access requirements. They can be reached on 0207 503 1646 from 12.30-6pm Mon-Saturday, or via boxoffice@arcolatheatre.com. Unfortunately, Studio 5 is not wheelchair-accessible at this time. They apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Arcola Passport, see more for less. •See 5 shows over 1 year; •Save £8 (40%) on each Standard ticket; •Save 10% at Arcola Bar; •Save 10% on Consenting Adults workshops; •Save 10% on space hire. Just £60.
Unlimited Passport, don’t miss a thing. •See as many shows as you like for 1 year; •Save more every time you come; •Save 10% at Arcola Bar; •Save 10% on Consenting Adults workshops; •Save 10% on space hire. Just £160.
Cafe Opening times: Monday – Saturday: 10am – 6pm. Bar Opening times: Monday – Thursday: 5pm – late; Friday: 5pm – 3am; Saturday: 2pm – late. They are only open on Sundays if there are performances / special events.
We offer concessions to: Students (with a student/NUS card), Members of Equity, BECTU, Writers’ Guild (WGGB) and Stage Directors UK (SDUK), Senior citizens (60+), People in receipt of disability benefits, Companions of people in receipt of disability benefits, People in receipt of unemployment benefits,. Proof of eligibility is required when collecting tickets. Those without proof will be asked to pay full price for their tickets.
For a calendar of productions please click here.
Location : Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL
Transport: Transport: Dalston Kingsland (Overground) 2 minutes OR Dalston Junction (Overground) 2 minutes. London Buses routes 149, 242, 6 or 243, 38 or 56, and 30 or 277 stop close by.
Access Line : 020 7503 1646
Tel: 020 7503 1646
