The Roundhouse
Encyclopedia
The Roundhouse is a Grade II* listed former railway engine shed
in Chalk Farm
, London
, England
, which has been converted into a performing arts
and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse
(from which the venue takes its name), a circular building containing a railway turntable
, but was only used for railway purposes for about a decade. After being used as a warehouse for a number of years, the building fell into disuse just before the Second World War. It re-opened twenty-five years later, as a performing arts
venue, when the playwright Arnold Wesker
established the Centre 42 Theatre Company and adopted the building as a theatre.
This large circular structure has hosted various notable promotions, such as the launch of the underground
paper International Times
in 1966, The Doors
only UK appearance in 1968 and Greasy Truckers Party
in 1972.
Greater London Council
handed control of the building to Camden London Borough Council
in 1983. By this time Centre 42 had run out of funds and the building remained unused until a local businessman purchased the building in 1996 and performing arts shows returned. It was closed again in 2004 for a multi-million pound
redevelopment. On 1 June 2006, the Broadway
show Fuerzabruta opened at the New Roundhouse.
Since 2006 Roundhouse has hosted the BBC Electric Proms
and numerous iTunes Festivals, also award ceremonies such as the BT Digital Music Awards and the Vodafone Live Music Awards. In 2009 Bob Dylan performed a concert and iTunes
promoted a music festival, at the venue. In line with the continuing legacy of avant-garde
productions, No Fit State Circus performed Tabu during which the audience were encouraged to move around the performance space.
In 2010, Roundhouse Studios set up its own in-house record label, Roundhouse Records.
engine shed
(or roundhouse
) for the London and Birmingham Railway
. The original building was built by Branson & Gwytherde, using designs by architects Robert B. Dockray and Robert Stephenson
. Within ten years locomotives became too large for the building to accommodate and the Roundhouse was used for a multitude of purposes. The longest period of use was as a bonded store for Gin distillers W & A Gilbey Ltd, for which the building was used over a period of fifty years from 1871. In 1964 the premises were transferred to Centre 42, which prepared a scheme to convert the building into "a permanent cultural centre with a theatre, cinema, art gallery and workshops, committee rooms for local organisations, library, youth club and restaurant dance-hall". This was estimated to cost between £300,000 and £600,000 (£– as of ), and was supported by "well-known actors, playwrights, authors, musicians and others". In 1966 the Roundhouse became a well known arts venue, after the freehold was taken up by the then new Greater London Council
. On 15 October 1966 Soft Machine
and Pink Floyd
appeared at the launch of the underground
news paper International Times
. During the next decade the building became an important venue for UK Underground music events Middle Earth and Implosion. Many of these were hosted and promoted by the Jeff Dexter. Others bands who played at the Roundhouse during this period included Gass
, The Rolling Stones
, Jeff Beck
, Zoot Money
's Dantalian's Chariot
, David Bowie
, The Sinceros
, Jimi Hendrix
, Pink Floyd
, Led Zeppelin
, Incredible String Band
, The Doors
with Jefferson Airplane
, Ramones
, The Clash
, Elkie Brooks
, and Motörhead who appeared at the Roundhouse on July 20, 1975.
In addition, the building was used in 1996 during the filming of the promotional video for the Manic Street Preachers
single A Design For Life
prior to development commencing.
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The Roundhouse has also been used for theatre and has had two periods of theatrical glory, with musicals such as Catch My Soul
(1969). Under the leadership of visionary producer Thelma Holt
, the first phase also featured experimental theatre productions, such as the Living Theatre production of 1776
and other plays directed by Peter Brook
. The lewd play Oh! Calcutta!
opened in July 1970 and started a run of nearly four thousand performances in London
.
The Greater London Council
passed the building to Camden London Borough Council
, in 1983 and it was closed as a venue due to lack of funds. The building lay empty until it was purchased for £6m (£ as of ) in 1996 by the Norman Trust led by the philanthropist
Torquil Norman
. In 1998 he set up the Roundhouse Trust and led its redevelopment, with a board of trustees which included public figures such as musicians Bob Geldof
and Suggs
, and Monty Python writer Terry Gilliam
.
The venue opened for a two year period to raise awareness and funds for a redevelopment scheme, under the directorship of former BAC director Paul Blackman
. shows promoted at this time included, the Royal National Theatre
's Oh, What a Lovely War!
, dancer Michael Clark
's comeback performance, percussion extravaganza Stomp
, Ken Campbell
's twenty four hour long show The Warp and the Argentine
De La Guarda's Villa Villa which ran for a year, becoming the longest ever running show at The Roundhouse, ending when the venue closed for re-development work.
The website dance.com, commenting on the redevelopment project, said: The renovated Roundhouse, designed by architects John McAslan & Partners in association with engineering company Buro Happold
, opened once more on 1 June 2006, promoting Fuerzabruta. Since 1996, the renovations had cost £27m (£ as of ).
In 2008, Michael Boyd, artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company
, transferred his RSC Histories Cycle to the Roundhouse, rearranging the performing space to match the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford upon Avon, where the cycle had first been staged. In her review for The British Theatre Guide
, Anita Butler noted:
On 31 March 2009, the charitable circus group No Fit State began a run of performances of Tabu, utilising the open space at the Roundhouse. On 26 April 2009, Bob Dylan
and his band performed at the Roundhouse, whilst on a tour of UK, and in July 2009 the iTunes
Music Festival (supported by Apple
) was held at the venue.
In 2010 the Roundhouse introduced contemporary classical music
to its events repertoire when it hosted the Reverb festival in January of that year, which included performances by the London Contemporary Orchestra
, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
, The Magnets
, Nico Muhly
, Sam Amidon
and the Britten Sinfonia
. A festival of vocal music entitled Voices Now is planned for March 2011, and will involve choral groups such as the BBC Singers
and the London Symphony Chorus
as well as events led by musical television presenter Gareth Malone
.
In August the ground floor Roundhouse Cafe closed for two months for major redevelopment, reopening in October as a new bar and dining room called 'Made in Camden'. Made in Camden has its own entrance and is open to everyone throughout the year, unlike the old cafe which was often only accessible to Roundhouse audiences.
The current Mayor of Camden, Labour Councillor Jonathan Simpson, is supporting the Roundhouse Trust as his nominated charity.
Since 2006 the Trust has provided over 13 000 learning opportunities for 11-25s in live music, circus, theatre and new media. Courses take place in the Roundhouse Studios, which include a music recording suite, film production rooms, TV and radio studios and rehearsal rooms. All of which are located directly underneath the Main Space.
Founded by Sir Torquil Norman
the Roundhouse Trust aims to engage young people, particularly those who have been excluded, marginalised or disadvantaged by society, by providing opportunities to learn new skills and gain new experiences.
The Roundhouse is Grade II listed. It was declared a National Heritage Site in 2010, when a Transport Trust Heritage Plaque was presented by Prince Michael of Kent
. It is regarded as a notable example of mid-19th century railway architecture. The original building, 48 metres (157.5 ft) in diameter, is constructed in yellow brick and is distinctive for its unusual circular shape and pointed roof. The conical slate roof has a central smoke louvre
(now glazed) and is supported by 24 cast-iron Doric columns (arranged around the original locomotive spaces) and a framework of curved ribs. The interior has original flooring and parts of the turntable and fragments of early railway lines.
The 2006 renovation was supported with conservation advice and funding from English Heritage
and with grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund
and the Arts Council England
. The project included the addition of seven layers of soundproofing to the roof, re-instating the glazed roof-lights, and added the steel and glass New Wing which curves around the north side of the main building, to house the box office, bar and café, an art gallery foyer and offices.
, in close proximity to Camden Market
. It can be reached by several public transport services:
Chalk Farm tube station
(Northern line ~ Edgware Branch)
uses a converted roundhouse building next to Derby railway station, formerly of the North Midland Railway
, as its Derby College @ Roundhouse campus. Opened in 2009, it is used for vocational training in a range of subjects.
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
in Chalk Farm
Chalk Farm
Chalk Farm is an area of north London, England. It lies directly to the north of Camden Town and its underground station is the closest tube station to the nearby, upmarket neighbourhood of Primrose Hill....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, which has been converted into a performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
(from which the venue takes its name), a circular building containing a railway turntable
Turntable (railroad)
A railway turntable is a device for turning railroad rolling stock. When steam locomotives were still in wide use, many railroads needed a way to turn the locomotives around for return trips as their controls were often not configured for extended periods of running in reverse and in many...
, but was only used for railway purposes for about a decade. After being used as a warehouse for a number of years, the building fell into disuse just before the Second World War. It re-opened twenty-five years later, as a performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
venue, when the playwright Arnold Wesker
Arnold Wesker
Sir Arnold Wesker is a prolific British dramatist known for his contributions to kitchen sink drama. He is the author of 42 plays, 4 volumes of short stories, 2 volumes of essays, a book on journalism, a children's book, extensive journalism, poetry and other assorted writings...
established the Centre 42 Theatre Company and adopted the building as a theatre.
This large circular structure has hosted various notable promotions, such as the launch of the underground
Underground press
The underground press were the independently published and distributed underground papers associated with the counterculture of the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and other western nations....
paper International Times
International Times
International Times was an underground newspaper founded in London in 1966. Editors included Hoppy, David Mairowitz, Pete Stansill, Barry Miles, Jim Haynes and playwright Tom McGrath...
in 1966, The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
only UK appearance in 1968 and Greasy Truckers Party
Greasy Truckers Party
Greasy Truckers Party is a 1972 live album by various artists recorded at a February 1972 Greasy Truckers concert at the Roundhouse in London. The concert featured three bands, Man, Brinsley Schwarz and Hawkwind, and musician Magic Michael...
in 1972.
Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
handed control of the building to Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Camden in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London...
in 1983. By this time Centre 42 had run out of funds and the building remained unused until a local businessman purchased the building in 1996 and performing arts shows returned. It was closed again in 2004 for a multi-million pound
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
redevelopment. On 1 June 2006, the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
show Fuerzabruta opened at the New Roundhouse.
Since 2006 Roundhouse has hosted the BBC Electric Proms
BBC Electric Proms
The BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms was an October music festival in London run by the BBC for five years, 2006-2010...
and numerous iTunes Festivals, also award ceremonies such as the BT Digital Music Awards and the Vodafone Live Music Awards. In 2009 Bob Dylan performed a concert and iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
promoted a music festival, at the venue. In line with the continuing legacy of avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
productions, No Fit State Circus performed Tabu during which the audience were encouraged to move around the performance space.
In 2010, Roundhouse Studios set up its own in-house record label, Roundhouse Records.
History
The Roundhouse was built in 1846 as a turntableTurntable (railroad)
A railway turntable is a device for turning railroad rolling stock. When steam locomotives were still in wide use, many railroads needed a way to turn the locomotives around for return trips as their controls were often not configured for extended periods of running in reverse and in many...
engine shed
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
(or roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
) for the London and Birmingham Railway
London and Birmingham Railway
The London and Birmingham Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom from 1833 to 1846, when it became part of the London and North Western Railway ....
. The original building was built by Branson & Gwytherde, using designs by architects Robert B. Dockray and Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson FRS was an English civil engineer. He was the only son of George Stephenson, the famed locomotive builder and railway engineer; many of the achievements popularly credited to his father were actually the joint efforts of father and son.-Early life :He was born on the 16th of...
. Within ten years locomotives became too large for the building to accommodate and the Roundhouse was used for a multitude of purposes. The longest period of use was as a bonded store for Gin distillers W & A Gilbey Ltd, for which the building was used over a period of fifty years from 1871. In 1964 the premises were transferred to Centre 42, which prepared a scheme to convert the building into "a permanent cultural centre with a theatre, cinema, art gallery and workshops, committee rooms for local organisations, library, youth club and restaurant dance-hall". This was estimated to cost between £300,000 and £600,000 (£– as of ), and was supported by "well-known actors, playwrights, authors, musicians and others". In 1966 the Roundhouse became a well known arts venue, after the freehold was taken up by the then new Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
. On 15 October 1966 Soft Machine
Soft Machine
Soft Machine were an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. They were one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene, and helped pioneer the progressive rock genre...
and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
appeared at the launch of the underground
Underground press
The underground press were the independently published and distributed underground papers associated with the counterculture of the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and other western nations....
news paper International Times
International Times
International Times was an underground newspaper founded in London in 1966. Editors included Hoppy, David Mairowitz, Pete Stansill, Barry Miles, Jim Haynes and playwright Tom McGrath...
. During the next decade the building became an important venue for UK Underground music events Middle Earth and Implosion. Many of these were hosted and promoted by the Jeff Dexter. Others bands who played at the Roundhouse during this period included Gass
Gass (band)
Gass was a rock band formed in May 1965 by Robert Tench, Godfrey and Errol McLean. They were managed by The Active Management Group. The band fused inspired melodies with soul, Latin influences, blues and progressive rock often employing complex rhythms....
, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, Zoot Money
Zoot Money
George Bruno Money, known as Zoot Money is a British vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band...
's Dantalian's Chariot
Dantalian's Chariot
Dantalian's Chariot were a British psychedelic rock band that formed in 1967. Led by keyboardist and bandleader Zoot Money, and also featuring Andy Summers , they are best remembered for their single "Madman Running Through the Fields", and for their live performances, which featured early...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, The Sinceros
The Sinceros
The Sinceros were a new wave, power pop band from London, England, who recorded two albums for Epic Records, The Sound of Sunbathing and Pet Rock . Both albums were released worldwide and achieved moderate commercial success...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Incredible String Band
Incredible String Band
The Incredible String Band were a psychedelic folk band formed in Scotland in 1966. The band built a considerable following, especially within British counterculture, before splitting up in 1974...
, The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
with Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
, Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
, The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice...
, and Motörhead who appeared at the Roundhouse on July 20, 1975.
In addition, the building was used in 1996 during the filming of the promotional video for the Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
single A Design For Life
A Design for Life
"A Design for Life" was released by Manic Street Preachers in 1996 and was the first single release from the Everything Must Go album of May that same year.The title was inspired by the Joy Division EP record "An Ideal for Living"...
prior to development commencing.
Catch My Soul (UK stage version)
Disambiguation: for Film version see Catch My SoulCatch My Soul was the UK stage version of the rock musical produced by Jack Good. The show was a showcase for the talents of Lance LeGault, PP Arnold, P.J. Proby and an introduction to the rock musician Robert Tench and the band Gass...
(1969). Under the leadership of visionary producer Thelma Holt
Thelma Holt
Thelma Holt, is a British theatre producer and former actress.After a successful career as an actress, in partnership with Charles Marowitz, Thelma founded the Open Space Theatre in Tottenham Court Road, London, which became the forerunner of the London fringe. In 1977, joined The Round House in...
, the first phase also featured experimental theatre productions, such as the Living Theatre production of 1776
1776 (musical)
1776 is a musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. The story is based on the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence...
and other plays directed by Peter Brook
Peter Brook
Peter Stephen Paul Brook CH, CBE is an English theatre and film director and innovator, who has been based in France since the early 1970s.-Life:...
. The lewd play Oh! Calcutta!
Oh! Calcutta!
Oh! Calcutta! is an avant-garde theatrical revue, created by British drama critic Kenneth Tynan. The show, consisting of sketches on sex-related topics, debuted Off-Broadway in 1969 and then in London in 1970. It ran in London for over 3,900 performances, and in New York initially for 1,314...
opened in July 1970 and started a run of nearly four thousand performances in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
passed the building to Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Camden in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London...
, in 1983 and it was closed as a venue due to lack of funds. The building lay empty until it was purchased for £6m (£ as of ) in 1996 by the Norman Trust led by the philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Torquil Norman
Torquil Norman
Sir Torquil Patrick Alexander Norman CBE is a British businessman, aircraft enthusiast, and arts philanthropist.-Life:An Old Etonian, graduate of Harvard and Trinity College, Cambridge, he stands 6' 7". Torquil gained his pilot’s licence at eighteen, did National Service in the Fleet Air Arm and...
. In 1998 he set up the Roundhouse Trust and led its redevelopment, with a board of trustees which included public figures such as musicians Bob Geldof
Bob Geldof
Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
and Suggs
Suggs (singer)
Graham McPherson , better known as Suggs, is an English singer, actor, former radio DJ, TV personality, and most famous as the frontman of the band Madness.-Early life:...
, and Monty Python writer Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
.
The venue opened for a two year period to raise awareness and funds for a redevelopment scheme, under the directorship of former BAC director Paul Blackman
Paul Blackman
Paul Blackman is a British theatrical producer and director.-Career:Former Deputy Director of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, Blackman in October 1990 became the Artistic Director of The Battersea Arts Centre whose fortunes he revitalised with a string of programming and audience...
. shows promoted at this time included, the Royal National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
's Oh, What a Lovely War!
Oh, What a Lovely War!
Oh, What a Lovely War! is an epic musical originated by Charles Chilton as a radio play, The Long Long Trail in December 1961, and transferred to stage by Gerry Raffles in partnership with Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop in 1963...
, dancer Michael Clark
Michael Clark (dancer)
Michael Clark is a Scottish dancer and choreographer.-Early life:Michael Clark was born in Aberdeen and began traditional Scottish dancing at the age of four. In 1975 he left home to study at the Royal Ballet School in London, and on his final day at the school he was presented with the Ursula...
's comeback performance, percussion extravaganza Stomp
Stomp (dance troupe)
Stomp is a percussion group that uses the body and ordinary objects to create a physical theatre performance.-History and performances:...
, Ken Campbell
Ken Campbell (actor)
Kenneth Victor Campbell was an English writer, actor, director and comedian known for his work in experimental theatre...
's twenty four hour long show The Warp and the Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
De La Guarda's Villa Villa which ran for a year, becoming the longest ever running show at The Roundhouse, ending when the venue closed for re-development work.
The website dance.com, commenting on the redevelopment project, said: The renovated Roundhouse, designed by architects John McAslan & Partners in association with engineering company Buro Happold
Buro Happold
Buro Happold is a professional services firm providing engineering consultancy, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of buildings, infrastructure and the environment, with its head office in Bath, Somerset...
, opened once more on 1 June 2006, promoting Fuerzabruta. Since 1996, the renovations had cost £27m (£ as of ).
In 2008, Michael Boyd, artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
, transferred his RSC Histories Cycle to the Roundhouse, rearranging the performing space to match the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford upon Avon, where the cycle had first been staged. In her review for The British Theatre Guide
British Theatre Guide
The British Theatre Guide is an on-line database of specially commissioned reviews of theatre productions throughout the United Kingdom, together with theatre-related news reports, interviews with leading theatre practitioners, obituaries and comprehensive annual obituary listings.It also...
, Anita Butler noted:
On 31 March 2009, the charitable circus group No Fit State began a run of performances of Tabu, utilising the open space at the Roundhouse. On 26 April 2009, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and his band performed at the Roundhouse, whilst on a tour of UK, and in July 2009 the iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
Music Festival (supported by Apple
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
) was held at the venue.
In 2010 the Roundhouse introduced contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
to its events repertoire when it hosted the Reverb festival in January of that year, which included performances by the London Contemporary Orchestra
London Contemporary Orchestra
The London Contemporary Orchestra is an ensemble of young musicians formed in 2008 whose stated aim is "to explore and promote new music to an increasingly wide audience". LCO staged its inaugural season at LSO St Luke's and has since performed at venues and festivals including The Roundhouse,...
, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is a British period instrument orchestra. The OAE is a resident orchestra of the Southbank Centre, London, associate orchestra at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and has its headquarters at Kings Place...
, The Magnets
The Magnets
The Magnets are a six piece British a cappella group, comprising Nicolas Doodson, Michael Welton, James Fortune, Andrew Frost, Stephen Trowell and Fraser Collins ....
, Nico Muhly
Nico Muhly
Nico Muhly is a contemporary classical music composer, who has worked and recorded with classical and pop/rock musicians. He currently lives in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan in New York City.-Early years:...
, Sam Amidon
Sam Amidon
Sam Amidon is an American independent folk artist born in Brattleboro, Vermont, June 3, 1981. His parents are folk artists Peter and Mary Alice Amidon. His younger brother, Stefan Amidon, is a professional drummer who performs with The Sweetback Sisters among other groups. Sam attended The Putney...
and the Britten Sinfonia
Britten Sinfonia
Britten Sinfonia is a chamber orchestra ensemble based in Cambridge, UK. It was created in 1992, following an initiative from Eastern Arts and a number of key figures including Nicholas Cleobury, who recognised the need for an orchestra in the East of England. It is a flexible ensemble composed of...
. A festival of vocal music entitled Voices Now is planned for March 2011, and will involve choral groups such as the BBC Singers
BBC Singers
The BBC Singers are the professional chamber choir of the BBC. As one of six BBC Performing Groups, the 24-voiced choir has been in existence for more than 80 years. The BBC Singers have commissioned and premiered works by the leading composers of the past century, including Benjamin Britten, Sir...
and the London Symphony Chorus
London Symphony Chorus
The London Symphony Chorus is a large symphonic concert choir based in London, England, consisting of over 150 amateur singers, and is one of the major symphony choruses of the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1966 as the LSO Chorus to complement the work of the London Symphony Orchestra...
as well as events led by musical television presenter Gareth Malone
Gareth Malone
Gareth Malone is a British choirmaster and broadcaster, self-described as an "animateur, presenter and populariser of choral singing"...
.
In August the ground floor Roundhouse Cafe closed for two months for major redevelopment, reopening in October as a new bar and dining room called 'Made in Camden'. Made in Camden has its own entrance and is open to everyone throughout the year, unlike the old cafe which was often only accessible to Roundhouse audiences.
The current Mayor of Camden, Labour Councillor Jonathan Simpson, is supporting the Roundhouse Trust as his nominated charity.
The Roundhouse Trust
Alongside its role as an arts venue, the Roundhouse is also a registered charity and runs a creative programme for 11-25s through the Roundhouse Trust.Since 2006 the Trust has provided over 13 000 learning opportunities for 11-25s in live music, circus, theatre and new media. Courses take place in the Roundhouse Studios, which include a music recording suite, film production rooms, TV and radio studios and rehearsal rooms. All of which are located directly underneath the Main Space.
Founded by Sir Torquil Norman
Torquil Norman
Sir Torquil Patrick Alexander Norman CBE is a British businessman, aircraft enthusiast, and arts philanthropist.-Life:An Old Etonian, graduate of Harvard and Trinity College, Cambridge, he stands 6' 7". Torquil gained his pilot’s licence at eighteen, did National Service in the Fleet Air Arm and...
the Roundhouse Trust aims to engage young people, particularly those who have been excluded, marginalised or disadvantaged by society, by providing opportunities to learn new skills and gain new experiences.
Architecture
Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent is a grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, making him a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. He is also the first cousin once removed of Prince Phillip. Prince Michael occasionally carries out royal duties representing the Queen at some functions in Commonwealth realms outside...
. It is regarded as a notable example of mid-19th century railway architecture. The original building, 48 metres (157.5 ft) in diameter, is constructed in yellow brick and is distinctive for its unusual circular shape and pointed roof. The conical slate roof has a central smoke louvre
Louver
A louver or louvre , from the French l'ouvert; "the open one") is a window, blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise...
(now glazed) and is supported by 24 cast-iron Doric columns (arranged around the original locomotive spaces) and a framework of curved ribs. The interior has original flooring and parts of the turntable and fragments of early railway lines.
The 2006 renovation was supported with conservation advice and funding from English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
and with grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
and the Arts Council England
Arts Council England
Arts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
. The project included the addition of seven layers of soundproofing to the roof, re-instating the glazed roof-lights, and added the steel and glass New Wing which curves around the north side of the main building, to house the box office, bar and café, an art gallery foyer and offices.
Location
The Roundhouse is situated on Chalk Farm Road to the north of Camden TownCamden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
, in close proximity to Camden Market
Camden Market
The Camden Markets are a number of adjoining large markets in Camden Town near the Hampstead Road Lock of the Regent's Canal , often called collectively "Camden Market" or "Camden Lock". The stalls sell crafts, clothing, bric-a-brac, fast food, and other things...
. It can be reached by several public transport services:
Chalk Farm tube station
Chalk Farm tube station
Chalk Farm tube station is a London Underground station near Camden Town in London. The station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern line, between Camden Town and Belsize Park stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2. The station stands at the junction of Chalk Farm Road/Haverstock Hill and Adelaide...
(Northern line ~ Edgware Branch)
- overground: Kentish Town West Railway Station
- London BusesLondon BusesLondon Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
routes 24London Buses route 24London Buses route 24 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:This route dates back to 1910, when it ran between Hampstead Heath and Victoria...
, 27, 31 168, and 393 ~ plus N5 and N31 - a waterbusTransport on the Regent's CanalTransport on the Regent's Canal includes a number of water transit services which run along the Regent's Canal in London, England, UK. Several privately-owned boat companies operate services which are open to the public, providing both leisure cruises and regular scheduled "water bus" services...
service at Camden LockCamden LockCamden Lock, or Hampstead Road Locks is a twin manually-operated lock on the Regent's Canal in Camden Town, London Borough of Camden. The sign on each of the twin locks reads "Hampstead Road Lock 1"...
Other buildings called Roundhouse
Derby CollegeDerby College
Derby College is a further education centre with sites located within Derbyshire , England and the surrounding area...
uses a converted roundhouse building next to Derby railway station, formerly of the North Midland Railway
North Midland Railway
The North Midland Railway was a British railway company, which opened its line from Derby to Rotherham and Leeds in 1840.At Derby it connected with the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway and the Midland Counties Railway at what became known as the Tri Junct Station...
, as its Derby College @ Roundhouse campus. Opened in 2009, it is used for vocational training in a range of subjects.
Discography
- Cyril DaviesCyril DaviesCyril Davies was one of the first British blues harmonica players and blues musician.-Biography:Born at St Mildred's, 15 Hawthorn Drive, Willowbank, Denham, Buckinghamshire, near London, he was the son of William Albert Davies, a labourer, and his wife Margaret Mary...
– Blues from The Roundhouse (1957) reissued as The Legendary Cyril DaviesCyril DaviesCyril Davies was one of the first British blues harmonica players and blues musician.-Biography:Born at St Mildred's, 15 Hawthorn Drive, Willowbank, Denham, Buckinghamshire, near London, he was the son of William Albert Davies, a labourer, and his wife Margaret Mary...
(1970) and as Alexis KornerAlexis KornerAlexis Korner was a blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a Founding Father of British Blues"...
& Cyril DaviesCyril DaviesCyril Davies was one of the first British blues harmonica players and blues musician.-Biography:Born at St Mildred's, 15 Hawthorn Drive, Willowbank, Denham, Buckinghamshire, near London, he was the son of William Albert Davies, a labourer, and his wife Margaret Mary...
(1984) - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
: "Silver MachineSilver MachineSilver Machine is a 1972 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single on 9 June 1972, reaching #3 on the UK singles chart. The single was re-issued in 1976, 1978 reaching #34 on the UK singles charts, and in 1983 reaching #67 on the UK singles charts...
" (recorded 1972) - Mott the HoopleMott the HoopleMott the Hoople were a British rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid 1970s. They are popularly known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.-The early years:Mott The Hoople...
: "Saturday Gigs" (recorded 1974) contains the line Float up to the Roundhouse on a Sunday afternoon. - Pink FairiesPink FairiesPink Fairies were an English rock band active in the London underground and psychedelic scene of the early 1970s. They promoted free music, drug taking and anarchy and often performed impromptu gigs and other agitprop stunts, such as playing for free outside the gates at the Bath and Isle of Wight...
: "Live at the Roundhouse 1975Live at the Roundhouse 1975Live at the Roundhouse 1975 is a 1982 album of a 1975 concert by the UK underground group Pink Fairies.A one-off reunion concert featuring all five previous members of the group was organised by Ted Carroll, head of Chiswick Records. At the time of this gig, Rudolph was also playing bass for...
" – released in 1982 - Motörhead: What's Words Worth? (recorded 1978)
- OpethOpethOpeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
: "The Roundhouse TapesThe Roundhouse Tapes-Disc Two:-DVD:# "When" − 10:28# "Ghost of Perdition" − 10:57# "Under the Weeping Moon" − 10:28# "Bleak" − 8:39# "Face of Melinda" − 9:58# "The Night and the Silent Water" − 10:29# "Windowpane" − 8:01# "Blackwater Park" − 18:59# "Demon of the Fall" − 8:13...
" (recorded 2006)
See also
- Fat Girl Gets a HaircutFat Girl Gets a HaircutThe Fat Girl Gets a Haircut and other Stories is a 12-part play, created by artist Mark Storor in collaboration with a cast of teenage actors. The play was first performed in The Roundhouse at Chalk Farm, North London, UK, on April 26, 2011, and set to run until May 7, 2011...
, a play created by artist Mark Storor in collaboration with a cast of teenage actors.