Curtain Playhouse Shoreditch, The Stage East London Visitor Centre, English Architecture Development
The Stage Curtain Playhouse, Shoreditch
1 Nov 2020
Curtain Theatre – The Stage, Shoreditch, London
Architects: Perkins&Will
Location: Shoreditch, East London, England, UK
The Stage Curtain Playhouse in Shoreditch
Visitor centre showcasing the remains of the Curtain Playhouse achieves planning consent
• Planning consent has been given to the visitor centre at The Stage to exhibit the excavated remains of the Curtain Playhouse to the public
• Visitors will be standing on a glass platform above the stage on which Shakespeare once acted and where productions of Romeo & Juliet and Henry V were staged
• The building has been designed by architects, Perkins&Will and aspects of the archaeology and history of the site are incorporated into the design
The Stage, a £750m mixed-use scheme in Shoreditch, has been given planning consent for its purpose-built visitor centre, which will showcase the remains of the recently excavated Curtain Playhouse – one of London’s most important and longest-running Elizabethan theatres.
Designed by architects, Perkins&Will, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves into the ambience of an Elizabethan playhouse as Shakespeare once did and see some of the artefacts uncovered during the detailed excavation. Within the building, the centrepiece will be a glass stage which will be constructed to float above the archaeology remains. This will also become a stage for evening performances, continuing the celebration of the arts.
Designed to honour the Curtain Playhouse’s heritage, corrugated, perforated and polished stainless steel panels have been chosen as the facade – a reference to a folded fabric curtain that both reveals and hides a theatre stage. Following the discovery of a bird whistle during the detailed dig, which archaeologists believe could have been used as a sound effect for productions such as Romeo & Juliet, the shapes of nightingales and larks have been incorporated in the perforation patterns as a celebration of both night and day, which makes this building truly unique. The inscription of the text from Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet that refers to it will also be displayed making a powerful impact on the space.
In order to sit comfortably in the plaza of The Stage, the architects at Perkins&Will have also curated the shape of the visitor centre to provide vistas into the public realm from Curtain Road. Its sloping roof is cut into with raked stepped seating that face a landscaped arena that animates the plaza. Like an opening curtain the corrugated cladding panels are pulled aside on the corner to reveal a glazed entrance to visitor centre and a staircase and lift that leads down to the archaeological remains that are now under the plaza.
Once complete, The Stage will feature more than 400 new homes, 33,000 sq ft of retail, including restaurants and cafes, and 200,000 sq ft of office space. The visitors centre is set to be completed in 2022.
Chris Brandon, Architect at Perkins&Will, commented: “The visitor centre has been designed from the inside out with the stage at its centre. Uniquely the Elizabethan stage base has survived and provided us with the opportunity to re-install the stage platform in its original position. Visitors and actors will be able to walk on the stage and stand in the footsteps of Shakespeare and his company; a truly extraordinary experience.”
Jonathan Goldstein, Chief Executive, Cain International, commented: “Preserving London’s history has been an essential part of this project from the outset, and securing planning permission that will allow us to share this history with locals and visitors is a major milestone in our journey at The Stage.
“The Stage is putting Shoreditch firmly on the global map and this purpose-built centre, which has been shaped by the findings of the excavation will ensure London’s original theatreland is not forgotten. We look forward to working with our partners in ensuring the visitor centre is not just a hub of history but a centre for the community, celebrating Shoreditch’s past, present and future.”
The Stage Curtain Playhouse Partners
Background
Combining shops, offices and homes with cultural facilities, public spaces and the preserved remains of Shakespeare’s Curtain Theatre, The Stage will be a new £750m district at the heart of London’s Shoreditch.
Cain International is leading a consortium of investors to develop the site. The joint venture partners include: Galliard Homes, McCourt, Vanke and The Estate Office Shoreditch.
For more information, please visit: www.thestageshoreditch.com or follow @TheStageEC2 on Twitter.
MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology)
MOLA provides independent archaeology and built heritage advice and professional services. With offices in London, Northampton and Birmingham, MOLA’s 250 staff help to discharge planning conditions expertly and swiftly. MOLA works in partnership to develop far-reaching research and community programmes. Find out more at mola.org.uk, on Twitter @MOLArchaeology, Facebook MOLArchaeology and LinkedIn.
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