Sadlers Wells
Sections:
Matthew Bourne's Early Adventures at Sadlers Wells, London
Visit the show page to book Matthew Bourne's Early Adventures Tickets and also find out more about the venue box office, seating plan and restaurants near to Sadler's Wells.
Theatre build date:
1998
History:
Theatres have stood on the site of the current Sadlers Wells building since 1683, when Richard Sadler opened his first ‘Musick House’. The building was so named because of Sadler’s discovery of monastic springs during the building’s construction. Sadler made a great deal of money from the venue selling tickets to musical plays as well as vials of the healing water from the springs underneath. Because of censorship and the existence of patent theatres elsewhere in London, Sadlers Wells was limited as to what it could legally stage. In 1765, the theatre was demolished and a new building specifically for opera was built in its place, also named Sadlers Wells.
The theatre was demolished and rebuilt three times in the nineteenth century, at a time when different types of productions required different structures. However, a brief spell of successful Shakespearean productions aside, Sadlers Wells continued to decline and the mid 1800’s saw it used as a roller rink and a boxing ring. In 1878, the theatre was condemned once again and demolished. The rebuilt Sadlers Wells opened as a music hall in 1879 and ended up, like many theatres, being converted into a cinema.
When it closed in 1915, the Old Vic’s Lilian Baylis set up a fundraising committee for the venue, which included such influential figures as the Duke of Devonshire and Winston Churchill. The brand new building opened in 1931 with a triumphant production of Twelfth Night, starring Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud. In 1996, the building was once again demolished to make way for a state of the art dance performance space.
The current building opened in 1998 with a new auditorium layout and 1.560 seats. Interestingly, the building retains the Grade II listing applied to the previous 1920’s building, and there is still access to the springs from which the theatre takes its name. The new Sadlers Wells has a reputation for its spectacular and innovative dance productions, both visiting and produced in house. As well as the main auditorium, Sadlers Wells also includes the 200-seat Lilian Baylis auditorium on site, and the Peacock Theatre in the West End.
Contact Details
Sadlers Wells Theatre
Rosebery Avenue
London
EC1R 4TN
For all ticket enquiries, call 020 7492 9968
Map
Facilities
Seating capacity:
1,560
Theatre layout:
Sadlers Wells is arranged in the traditional three levels, stalls, Dress Circle and Upper Circle. The width of the auditorium and height of the circles mean the stalls and Dress Circle offer clear views throughout. The Upper Circle is high, but is set back far enough that the view is comfortable if a little distant.
