Sadler’s Wells Theatre, a performing arts venue in Clerkenwell, London, England is located on Rosebery Avenue next to New River Head. One of the top dance venues, it now has two performance spaces, the 1,560-seat main auditorium, and the Lilian Baylis Studio named after an English theatrical producer and manager, along with a large number of practice spaces and technical amenities on the premises designed by RHWL architects, a division of the Aedas architectural company today along with Nicholas Hare Architects. The theatre reaches the broadest audiences imaginable with the most genres of top-notch international and UK dance. The theatre serves as both a stage for visiting companies and a production house, with several linked artists and groups creating original works just for the theatre.
History | Sadler’s Wells Theatre
The theatre was first called “Music House,” which Richard Sadler opened as London’s second public theatre after the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The first entertainment events held here were Vocal and instrumental performances. Due to the presence of two “Theatre Royal ” in London up to the middle of the 18th century, Sadler’s Well was not notably well-known before. However, Sadler’s Well Theatre became popular for its summer productions, which always begin on Eater Monday.
The crowd was attracted to the theatre because of Charles Dibdin’s innovative and immersive design of the standard proscenium theatre layout style of the nineteenth century. The whole stage was replaced with a permanent water tank, and a second tank was constructed on the ceiling, which, when required, produced a cascade streaming down the backdrop of scenes. This theatre has had several closures and reopening throughout the ages, exhibiting a variety of varied artists that not only explicate the plays and stories in the books but also the trades, circumstances, and scenarios of the events in the UK.
Design Philosophy
Sadler’s Well Theatre has undergone several reconstructions, remodels, improvements, and alterations over the years as needed and necessary. The most recent renovation of the existing structure was completed in 1998 by RHWL architects, a division of the Aedas architectural company today along with Nicholas Hare Architects. Remodeling included adding four practice rooms to the building’s current program as well as thoroughly redesigning the main entry lobby, stage, and backstage areas with the newest technological stage equipment. Rebuilding communal and educational buildings was another key component.
RHWL as a part of Aedas developed an architectural concept that uses two enclosed walls on the front facade, divided by sheer glass, to protect the outside environment. The axis of the auditorium is aligned with the numerous parts that protrude from the building. Also, the Frank Matcham theatre from 1931, which itself contains bricks from the Victorian playhouse from 1879, served as the framework for the newly constructed theatre. The older floor levels, elements of the structural steelwork, and a part of the auditorium walls were all carried over into the new design.
Access and Entrance | Sadler’s Wells Theatre
RHWL – Aedas designed the building’s sharp glass entrance from the corner of Arlington Way and Rosebery Ave. Brick and glass together make up the façade. These walls are made of red brick and are punctuated by ranks of plain square windows and other openings, some of which extend outward in the form of wedges. With bright red doors guiding people inside, the main entrance’s glass sheer wall on Rosebery Avenue is welcoming and of human proportions. In the afternoons and evenings, natural light pours into the foyer space through the glass curtain wall, making the front façade permeable and giving the appearance of a busy theatre from the streets. Several floating galleries are connected by this substantial large entrance foyer that eventually tapers down. Architects have placed a cantilevered staircase with open maple treads providing access to all levels of the auditorium, bar, food, ticket sales, and a shop.
New High – Tech Auditorium
The architect’s design of the new auditorium provides good sightlines to all four corners of the stage of 15m x 15m and 80 seat orchestra pits. The rows of seats in the auditorium are steeply raked yet have very little curvature. The seating configuration is flexible and can be changed to reduce the audience size from 1,578 to 900 or boost it to 1,833 for promenade audiences by removing the stalls. The new auditorium’s ability to alter the atmosphere of the room through light and picture projection onto the metal gauze panels that line the walls is one of its most fascinating features. Additionally, technology makes it possible for a production to expand physically, bringing together actors and spectators in a single area. The screens may be removed to expose gallery platforms, which can be used for audience boxes or staging, adding even more versatility. Other adaptable features include hidden acoustic devices that can be adjusted to fit various musical styles, hinged panels in the wall screens for lighting, an adjustable proscenium height, and rows of stall seats that can be moved about on-air pallets.
The rear end of the Theatre | Sadler’s Wells Theatre
The seats at the Lilian Baylis Theatre include rows that may be electronically pulled back to create a completely open area. The Arlington Room, a communal area accessed from Arlington Way, a workshop, and the Kahn lecture theatre are all located inside the new Sadler’s Wells, which spans between the backs of the homes on Arlington Way and Rosebery Avenue. Access to the garden area, cafeteria, and green rooms is provided via a brand-new stage entrance with a glass front from Rosebery Avenue between the residences on Rosebery Avenue, the Lilian Baylis Theatre, and the back of the Georgian House.
Conclusion
A broad variety of genres and cultural styles are featured in the programming at the new Sadler’s Wells, which has a reputation for inclusivity. The RHWL as a component of Aedas has given the historic Sadler’s Well Theatre a new image and identity by not erasing the past, having a blend of glass and brick facade on the exteriors, and retaining the layout and orientation of the previous Sadler’s Well Theatre.
References:
Online sources
- [online] Available at: <https://www.sadlerswells.com/your-visit/accessibility/getting-to-our-theatres/sadlers-wells-theatre-visual-guide/> [Accessed 27 August 2022].
Aedas. n.d. Sadler’s Wells Theatre. [online] Available at: <https://www.aedas.com/en/what-we-do/arts-team/dance/multipurpose/sadler-s-wells> [Accessed 23 August 2022].
Ajbuildingslibrary.co.uk. n.d. Sadler’s Wells Theatre | AJ Buildings Library. [online] Available at: <https://www.ajbuildingslibrary.co.uk/projects/display/id/2104> [Accessed 25 August 2022].
British-history.ac.uk. 2008. Sadler’s Wells | British History Online. [online] Available at: <https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol47/pp140-164#h2-0014> [Accessed 26 August 2022].
Building Centre. n.d. Sadlers Wells – Building Centre. [online] Available at: <https://90years.buildingcentre.co.uk/building/sadlers-wells/> [Accessed 27 August 2022].
e-architect. 2018. Sadlers Wells London : Architecture. [online] Available at: <https://www.e-architect.com/london/sadlers-wells-theatre> [Accessed 23 August 2022].
En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Sadler’s Wells Theatre – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadler%27s_Wells_Theatre> [Accessed 23 August 2022].
sadlerswells, 2018. Construction. Available at: <http://blog.sadlerswells.com/tag/construction/> [Accessed 25 August 2022].
Images/visual mediums
London County Council, 2008. Sadler’s Wells. [image] Available at: <https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol47/pp140-164#h2-0014> [Accessed 29 August 2022].
Unique venues of London, n.d. Sadler’s Wells. [image] Available at: <http://www.uniquevenuesoflondon.co.uk/venue/sadlers-wells> [Accessed 29 August 2022].
Construction, 2018. World Architecture Day Interview with Roger Spence. [image] Available at: <http://blog.sadlerswells.com/tag/construction/> [Accessed 29 August 2022].
Spotlight – The Home of Casting, n.d. Lilian Baylis Studio. [image] Available at: <https://www.spotlight.com/contacts/listing/afb7e879-e54f-4d19-92e4-1f927909d81b> [Accessed 29 August 2022].
- Sadler’s well. [image] Available at: <https://images.sadlerswells.com/uploads/2021/08/Cafe-with-Khan-scaled.jpg?fit=1400%2C1400> [Accessed 29 August 2022].