Camden People’s Theatre, which supports early-career artists making unconventional theatre, is to begin a redevelopment programme that will see its building open to the community both day and night.
The building – originally a pub – has been re-designed in consultation with artists, staff, audiences and community members. It will include a new community café and have much greater on-street presence. The refurbishment will provide better access facilities including automatic doors; improved sightlines; a more comfortable bar and foyer space; increased performance space; and acoustic separation between that space and the street and bar.
A grant from the Cultural Capital Kickstart fund will enable the theatre to complete building work over the next four months while it remains closed to audiences due to pandemic restrictions. It aims to re-open in the spring as a community-focused civic space.
John Myers, Chair of Drummond Street Neighbourhood Forum, said: “The theatre has tirelessly supported the Drummond Street community over the last 25 years and the co-design process, which a number of our residents have been involved in, gave us the chance to be directly involved in the ambition for the building. This project promises to secure CPT’s future in our area and ensure the organisation can thrive over the next 20 years, building a stronger community through an unprecedented time of change and upheaval.”