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Cockpit Theatre (Marylebone)
Encyclopedia
The Cockpit Theatre is a Fringe Theatre
in Marylebone, London. The Cockpit Theatre was designed by Edward Mendelsohn built in 1969-70 by the Inner London Education Authority
as a community theatre and is notable as London's first purpose built Theatre In The Round, since the Great Fire of London
. Ownership transferred from ILEA when it was disbanded in 1990 to the London Borough of Westminster
, who made it part of the newly renamed City of Westminster College
. It remains one of a handful of purpose built theatre training venues in the capital and is still owned and operated by the City Of Westminster College.
Between 1993 and 1995 the Soho Theatre Company
took up residence and relaunched itself after a period of homelessness. During this period they premiered the works of over 35 new writers.
In January 2011, owners City of Westminster College moved into their new main building at Paddington Green which included a new theatre. This change meant The Cockpit is no longer used for day-to-day teaching or academic office space and is now operating as full-time theatre and training venue.
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The auditorium is 8.5m high and 11m2 with a retractable seating bank on all four sides. Each bank seats 60 people and the seat cushions and backrests can be removed to create alternative playing areas. With the upstage, left and right banks retracted, the downstage centre bank can be pulled out from the standard four rows to 10 rows, creating an end-on configuration. The stage
measures 6.6m x 8.6m in thrust
setting and 6.6m x 5.9m in-the-round
.
Upstage, a series of trapdoors span the width of the stage with a series or movable and replaceable panels covering them. Under the stage is a large manually winched lift (now out of service) which can roll along the span of the traps. Although these could be used for stage effects, original plans show this sub-stage area marked as a "chair store" and was to be used as the storage area for seats removed when reconfiguring the space.
in to. These sockets are connected to 3 Strand
STM dimmers, providing 60 ways way of dimming. This equipment was installed when the Cockpit first opened and is still operational to date, as are many of the lanterns.
The design of the gantries allows for access to all lighting positions without the inherent dangers of a fly system
or working up a ladder and the cable trunking
surrounding the gantries also act as safety barriers to prevent accidental falls.
and Cockpit-in-Court
, both venues used as theatre and cockfighting rings which nicely echoed the theatre's in-the-round design. Fortuitously, the original design of the foyer floor incorporated a roundel
motif which linked nicley to the idea of a plane's cockpit
. The name "Cockpit Arts Workshop" was adopted and eventually became the "Cockpit Theatre" or simply the "Cockpit".
and young people from The Prince's Trust
. The Cockpit hosts regular training opportunities in technical theatre skills such as rigging and pyrotechnics, and is popular with drama schools and youth groups. It also hosts the National Youth Jazz Orchestra
's weekend rehearsals every Saturday and DreamArts every term-time Sunday.
recorded "Music In The Round" at the Cockpit. Presented by Humphrey Burton
, the show included performances and interviews with leading musicians across a broad range of genres. Amongst talent showcased in the 22 episodes were the National Youth Jazz Orchestra
(having already made the Cockpit their home), who were featured on 7 May 1972 and Marc Bolan
on 23 April 1972.
Fringe theatre
Fringe theatre is theatre that is not of the mainstream. The term comes from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which name comes from Robert Kemp, who described the unofficial companies performing at the same time as the second Edinburgh International Festival as a ‘fringe’, writing: ‘Round the fringe...
in Marylebone, London. The Cockpit Theatre was designed by Edward Mendelsohn built in 1969-70 by the Inner London Education Authority
Inner London Education Authority
The Inner London Education Authority was the education authority for the 12 inner London boroughs from 1965 until its abolition in 1990.-History:...
as a community theatre and is notable as London's first purpose built Theatre In The Round, since the Great Fire of London
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall...
. Ownership transferred from ILEA when it was disbanded in 1990 to the London Borough of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, who made it part of the newly renamed City of Westminster College
City of Westminster College
City of Westminster College is a further education college located in the borough of Westminster, central London. The College has two centres located in Paddington and Queen's Park...
. It remains one of a handful of purpose built theatre training venues in the capital and is still owned and operated by the City Of Westminster College.
Between 1993 and 1995 the Soho Theatre Company
Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre is a theatre in the eponymous Soho district of the City of Westminster. It presents new works of theatre, together with comedy and cabaret....
took up residence and relaunched itself after a period of homelessness. During this period they premiered the works of over 35 new writers.
In January 2011, owners City of Westminster College moved into their new main building at Paddington Green which included a new theatre. This change meant The Cockpit is no longer used for day-to-day teaching or academic office space and is now operating as full-time theatre and training venue.
The auditorium
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
measures 6.6m x 8.6m in thrust
Thrust stage
In theatre, a thrust stage is one that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by its up stage end. A thrust has the benefit of greater intimacy between performers and the audience than a proscenium, while retaining the utility of a backstage area...
setting and 6.6m x 5.9m in-the-round
Theatre in the round
Theatre-in-the-round or arena theatre is any theatre space in which the audience surrounds the stage area...
.
Upstage, a series of trapdoors span the width of the stage with a series or movable and replaceable panels covering them. Under the stage is a large manually winched lift (now out of service) which can roll along the span of the traps. Although these could be used for stage effects, original plans show this sub-stage area marked as a "chair store" and was to be used as the storage area for seats removed when reconfiguring the space.
Lighting
There are 2 lighting gantries surrounding the space with the control box on the lower gantry, above the downstage centre seating bank. The lower gantry is 3.5m from the stage, the upper is 6.21m from the stage and each gantry has two scaffold bars for the rigging of lanterns or scenery. The upper gantry also includes a central "T" shaped walkway, with the top edge of the T on the upstage side of the auditorium. The T, and both gantries have 15A power outlets for plugging stage lightingStage lighting
Modern stage lighting is a flexible tool in the production of theatre, dance, opera and other performance arts. Several different types of stage lighting instruments are used in the pursuit of the various principles or goals of lighting. Stage lighting has grown considerably in recent years...
in to. These sockets are connected to 3 Strand
Strand Lighting
Strand Lighting is an international theatre and television lighting company founded in 1914 in London's West End that supplies lighting fixtures and controls for the entertainment industry. Strand's products have been used on countless theatre productions and TV shows worldwide.-History:Strand...
STM dimmers, providing 60 ways way of dimming. This equipment was installed when the Cockpit first opened and is still operational to date, as are many of the lanterns.
The design of the gantries allows for access to all lighting positions without the inherent dangers of a fly system
Fly system
A fly system, flying system or theatrical rigging system, is a system of lines , blocks , counterweights and related devices within a theatre that enable a stage crew to quickly, quietly and safely fly components such as curtains, lights, scenery, stage effects and, sometimes, people...
or working up a ladder and the cable trunking
Electrical conduit
An electrical conduit is an electrical piping system used for protection and routing of electrical wiring. Electrical conduit may be made of metal, plastic, fiber, or fired clay. Flexible conduit is available for special purposes....
surrounding the gantries also act as safety barriers to prevent accidental falls.
Name
Now known as "The Cockpit", the theatre has previously had a few other names. Initially named the "Gateforth Street Youth Arts Centre" (and referred to by variations thereof) it was soon decided that a simpler name would be more appropriate. The name 'Cockpit' derived from the 17th century Cockpit TheatreCockpit Theatre
The Cockpit was a theatre in London, operating from 1616 to around 1665. It was the first theatre to be located near Drury Lane. After damage in 1617, it was christened The Phoenix....
and Cockpit-in-Court
Cockpit-in-Court
The Cockpit-in-Court was an early theatre in London, located at the rear of the Palace of Whitehall, next to St...
, both venues used as theatre and cockfighting rings which nicely echoed the theatre's in-the-round design. Fortuitously, the original design of the foyer floor incorporated a roundel
Roundel
A roundel in heraldry is a disc; the term is also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of different colours.-Heraldry:...
motif which linked nicley to the idea of a plane's cockpit
Cockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
. The name "Cockpit Arts Workshop" was adopted and eventually became the "Cockpit Theatre" or simply the "Cockpit".
Youth work
Since its inception, the Cockpit has been used as a venue for working with young people. Until 2011 it was used as a training venue for the City of Westminster College's performing arts, theatre lighting, sound engineering and media students, along with regularly visiting students from Ball State UniversityBall State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
and young people from The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
. The Cockpit hosts regular training opportunities in technical theatre skills such as rigging and pyrotechnics, and is popular with drama schools and youth groups. It also hosts the National Youth Jazz Orchestra
National Youth Jazz Orchestra
The National Youth Jazz Orchestra is a British jazz orchestra founded in 1963 by Bill Ashton.Based in Westminster, London, NYJO started life as the London Schools' Jazz Orchestra and evolved into becoming the national orchestra...
's weekend rehearsals every Saturday and DreamArts every term-time Sunday.
Music In The Round
Between April 1971 and November 1972, London Weekend TelevisionLondon Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
recorded "Music In The Round" at the Cockpit. Presented by Humphrey Burton
Humphrey Burton
Humphrey Burton, CBE is a British classical music presenter, broadcaster, director, producer, and biographer of musicians....
, the show included performances and interviews with leading musicians across a broad range of genres. Amongst talent showcased in the 22 episodes were the National Youth Jazz Orchestra
National Youth Jazz Orchestra
The National Youth Jazz Orchestra is a British jazz orchestra founded in 1963 by Bill Ashton.Based in Westminster, London, NYJO started life as the London Schools' Jazz Orchestra and evolved into becoming the national orchestra...
(having already made the Cockpit their home), who were featured on 7 May 1972 and Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
on 23 April 1972.