Hampstead Theatre
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| Hampstead Theatre | |
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| Fill image | |
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| Address |
Eton Avenue
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| City | |
| Designation | RIBA Award 2003 |
| Architect | Bennetts Associates |
| Owned by | Hampstead Theatre Company |
| Capacity | 140-325 seated on two levels 80 seated (Michael Frayn Space) |
| Type | Flexible stage and seating |
| Opened | 2003 |
| Years active | Since 1964 (other premises) |
| www.hampsteadtheatre.com | |
| Coordinates: | |
Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in Hampstead, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing.
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[edit] Formation of the Company
The original theatre (The Hampstead Theatre Club) was created in a Scout Hall in 1959. James Roose-Evans was the first Artistic Director. The 1959 season included The Dumb Waiter and The Room by Harold Pinter, Eugene Ionesco's Jacques and The Sport of My Mad Mother by Ann Jellicoe.
[edit] Temporary accommodation
In 1962 the company moved to a portable cabin in Swiss Cottage where it remained for nearly 40 years.
[edit] New building
In 2003 the new, purpose-built Hampstead Theatre opened in Swiss Cottage. The main auditorium sits between 150 and 325 people. There is also a studio theatre - The Michael Frayn Space.
[edit] Artistic directors
- James Roose-Evans (1959-71)
- Vivian Matalon
- Michael Rudman
- David Aukin
- Michael Attenborough
- Jenny Topper
- Anthony Clark (since 2003)
[edit] Playwrights
Playwrights who have had their early work produced at the theatre include:
- Simon Block
- Michael Frayn
- Brian Friel
- Terry Johnson
- Hanif Kureishi
- Mike Leigh
- Abi Morgan
- Rona Munro
- Tamsin Oglesby
- Harold Pinter
- Philip Ridley
- Shelagh Stephenson
- Debbie Tucker Green
- Crispin Whittell
- Roy Williams
[edit] External links
- Hampstead Theatre Official website
- [1] 2003 interview with Artistic Director Jenny Topper by Aleks Sierz
