London to build biggest new Theatre since the National Theatre (renting, hotel)

[Brave New World]

Kensington Olympia: Stage set for London's biggest theatre since 1976 - BBC News

Laing O’Rourke signs £600m London Olympia contract - Construction Enquirer

London’s getting its biggest new theatre for 45 years - Time Out

The Olympia Theatre is the latest in a number of new theatre openings in London.

Why the hell are so many new theatres opening in London? - Time Out

[Brave New World]

Following the recent opening of the @sohoplace is a West End theatre operated by Nimax Theatres, on the previous site of the London Astoria, another new West End theatre is now set to open in relation to the restored Saville theatre.

The theatre brings the number of West End theatres to 40, not including the Royal Opera House home of the Royal Ballet and Opera, the London Coliseum which is the resident home to the English National Opera and is also the base for performances by the English National Ballet, although the Coliseum is sometimes used for West End shows, as is the Peacock Theatre in the West End which belongs to Sadler's Wells, which specialises in dance and performing arts.

As for the Saville theatre it was remembered for performances by the likes of the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, The Who, Jimi Hendrix and numerous others, before becoming the Covent Garden Odeon Cinema.

The new refurbishment and redevelopment will see it once again become a theatre hosting West End performances, as well as becoming the Cirque du Soleil potential first permanent home in the UK.

List of London venues - Wikipedia

Cirque du Soleil Plan Permanent U.K. Venue at London’s Iconic Saville Theatre - Retail & Leisure International (September 2023)

London’s restored Saville Theatre set to incorporate citizenM hotel - Business Traveller (20th September 2023)

[Brave New World]

Another restoration project this time in respect of an old theatre in Westbourne Grove (Notting Hill area), which is to be renamed the Aspect theatre, and will become a Music and Arts centre which will include hosting chamber music concerts, recitals, music education and theatre.

West London theatre that's been shut for 60 years set to reopen as concert venue - MyLondon News (18th September 2023)

Originally Posted by ianVisits

Plans have been revealed to restore a disused theatre back to public use some 60 years after it closed. The theatre, on Westbourne Grove in west London, was built in 1862 as the Victoria Hall, although renamed the Bijou Theatre in 1893. After a short stint as a cinema in 1911-18, it reopened as a theatre and was renamed the Twentieth Century Theatre in 1936.

However, it closed in 1962 and has been used as an antiques warehouse ever since.

It has now been acquired by the Aspect Foundation for Music and Arts, a charity that organises chamber music concerts, and after ten years of renting halls, now plans to establish a permanent home at the Twentieth Century Theatre.

The theatre is much larger than it seems from the street, as the bulk of the theatre space is behind the row of shops on Westbourne Grove, and the entrance sits where there used to be a shop. Less well known is that it also curves around the corner to the neighbouring Portabello Road, which is the entrance to the antiques warehouse.

The plan, which has now been submitted to the council for approval, is to restore the building back to its heyday as a theatre while bringing it up to modern standards.

The former theatre hall, which is up on the first floor, capable of accommodating an audience of 175, will be restored and used for the Foundation’s core programme of classical chamber music performances, A new education and multi-purpose space on the ground floor, with a capacity of 100, will have a day and evening programme aimed at community participation.

The frontage on Westbourne Grove would also be refurbished with the building’s new name – the Aspect Theatre.

The architects are Caruso St John Architects, and the decision to approve restoring the building back to a working theatre space now lies with Kensington and Chelsea Council.

Plans revealed to restore a disused theatre on Westbourne Grove - ianVisits (25th September 2023)