Sadler's Wells East

In 2022 Sadler’s Wells will open a new 550 seat theatre in East London in a new development in the Queen Elizabeth Park in Stratford. The area will be known as the East Bank and will offer exceptional cultural experiences and world-class education, set in a vibrant new neighbourhood that combines the best of residential living, culture and educational opportunities. East Bank will include new buildings for The London College of Fashion, the V&A and the BBC along with a new campus for UCL.

The architectural practice O’Donnell+Tuomey is designing the Sadler’s Wells building. O’Donnell+Tuomey was founded in Dublin in 1988 by Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey. The practice began with two public commissions arising from their cultural and social engagement: the Irish Film Institute and Ranelagh Multidenominational School. Both buildings have since been extended by them in a continuing relationship with the original clients.

Sadler’s Wells East will present the best UK and international dance created for the mid-scale. Its new choreographic centre and hip hop academy, alongside a programme of events and participatory activities, will offer life-changing training, development and learning opportunities to artists, audiences and local communities. The auditorium will be an adaptable 550- seat theatre designed for mid- scale dance. The building will be welcoming and highly functional and provide a unique resource for dance. There is an L-shaped public ‘living room’ foyer that wraps around the building opening out onto the F10 bridge and the Podium arrival. Fully glazed the foyer will be home to a café, bar, box office and community dance area with views out towards the outside performance space.

As part of the development of interior design for the building, Tamsin Dillon was invited to work on a process to commission new works of art to be located as permanent and integral to the L-shaped lobby space.

The invitation to artists for this process was underpinned by the principles to propose work that celebrates and marks the physical milestone that is the new Sadler’ s Wells East theatre; a work that celebrates and/or is inspired by any aspect of the creative and active area of dance and many related areas such as choreography, music, experimental movement; art that celebrates diversity and that responds to the characteristics of the building.

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the building is likely to open approximately one year later than planned in 2023.