[LOCAL INTEREST]
[recent developments]
work of art
More than a year after the Grand Hall fire, the Journal looks at the progress of the rebuild and what Battersea Arts Centre has got planned for the future Dorothy Musariri
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n 13 March 2015, a fire broke out at Battersea Arts Centre, destroying the lower and upper part of the Grand Hall that, at the time, were being renovated. The cause of the fire came back inconclusive but, having been given the go-ahead to rebuild, the new Grand Hall is expected to be up and running by autumn 2018. “People’s response to the fire was very moving,” says artistic director David Jubb, before adding, “everyone from near and far that has been involved in Battersea Arts Centre in any shape or form was touched by the breadth and depth of people’s kindness. “I think it has shown more than ever the value of public, cultural spaces in which we share memorable life-shaping events together.” Battersea Arts Centre has announced several changes and additions to the new building, including portable side galleries and a 30-person lift. The Lower Hall will be turned into a creative hub for small businesses, which will offer affordable office leases. Further changes will be made to the lighting, ventilation and sound systems and some features will be added to make the change-overs during live shows smoother. Part of the renovation has been designed by awardwinning British architect
Photo © Morley von Sternberg
up-and-coming productions), as part of the A Nation’s Theatre Festival, a celebration of theatre around the country. Returning to BAC is London Stories, which gives local residents and visitors alike the chance to share their own experiences of living in the capital. A whole host of performances have been lined up throughout June ranging
“People’s response to the fire was very moving”
firm Haworth Tompkins. Steve Tompkins, director of Haworth Tompkins, says: “We took the decision with Battersea Arts Centre to manifest the changes caused by the fire and to replace lost elements with contemporary material rather than replicas.” With the new renovations in mind, David and the arts centre team have a few new projects lined up, including the creation of an open-air courtyard theatre which opens in July for outdoor live productions. They have also
from dance to documentary theatre. Performances lined up include: Chilcot, Plan B for Utopia, Grandad and Me, Live Before You Die, Can I Start Again Please, Hair Peace, Ross and Rachel, Meeting and Rock the MIC. The fire is now part of the history of BAC and there’s Photo © Haworth Tompkins a lot to look taken on another project that forward to in the will bring a Moving Museum new Grand Hall, with all to the borough. It will travel of the performances and around local schools, libraries future projects lined up, as and hospitals in the area, well as seeing all the new featuring talks and workshops. improvements that have As some parts of the been made to the building building have already been post-fire. refurbished, some of the See website for event details, artists have already moved Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender into the three new floors of Hill, SW11 5TN, 020 7223 2223, rooms (where they will stay bac.org.uk to rehearse and perform for
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