This is the first glimpse inside the Kiln Theatre after its two-year, £7 million revamp. Formerly called the Tricycle, it will reopen tomorrow with an expanded auditorium and brand new facilities and equipment.
Previously hidden original features dating back to 1929 can now be seen in the opened-up entrance hall and around the larger 292-seat theatre, which offers full disabled access and space for eight wheelchairs.
The theatre, which is based in Kilburn, had been operating with Eighties-era equipment and facilities. Now it has a new layout with better views, individual corduroy seats rather than benches, state-of-the-art lighting and rigging and an adaptable stage.
Kiln artistic director Indhu Rubasingham, who has led the theatre to two Olivier awards, told the Standard the project had been essential to future-proof the theatre.
She said: “We wanted to make it more open and accessible and much more warm. I describe it as we have gone to widescreen, to the full width of the building. It’s so important because the community deserves it. Just because this is not central London, doesn’t mean the theatre shouldn’t be high-spec and beautiful. When our lighting designer first saw the auditorium, he burst into tears. Things like new lighting bridges will speed the process up and allow creative change of choice.”
The announcement in April that the theatre would be renamed caused controversy, and more than 1,500 people signed a petition to keep it as the Tricycle. Upcoming shows include Holy Sh!t by Alexis Zegerman and the first stage production of Zadie Smith’s White Teeth, from Stephen Sharkey.
More than 10,000 tickets will be on offer for £12.50 or under during the first season, with 2,000 free tickets for those who have never been to the theatre. Otherwise tickets will stay at pre-renovation prices.
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