A new 620 seat theatre is to open at Westfield London in Shepherd’s Bush next autumn, the Standard can reveal.
Named Capital Theatre, the venue will be set over 35,000 square feet and located at the southwest corner of the shopping centre where a department Debenhams store used to be.
Plans for the space — to be operated by Adam Kenwright in partnership with producer Karl Sydow — includes seating customers in the auditorium no more than nine rows from the performance stage area.
The theatre will launch next October with it’s first production of the worldwide smash hit Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage. Tickets for performances, to commence on October 23, will be on sale from Friday.
Mr Sydow, who who has produced the musical for more than 20 years, in various parts of the world from Sydney to Paris, said: “We have a lot of plans and goals which we hope to fulfil to make this a unique theatrical experience for people. We hope to use that to enhance Dirty Dancing.
“For years now we've been having a discussion about doing this and it took a while to find the right space but it was really exciting when we did.
“What’s so special about this space is we're taking the theatre to the audience, in what is Europe's largest shopping centre,” the award-winning film and stage producer added.
The venue will include a welcoming foyer café and an onsite box office, alongside a number of facilities.
The auditorium has been envisioned by the architect and design team behind The Bridge Theatre, The Young Vic and the Kit Kat Club.
Mr Kenwright, Founder and Managing Director of Kindred Partners who will operate the venue, hopes it will draw in new audiences given the space is to host “one of the capital’s most accessible theatres”.
The venue is situated close to numerous public transport links served by four London underground stations, including Shepherd’s Bush, White City, Wood Lane and Shepherd’s Bush Market. There will also be direct access to the theatre from within Westfield itself.
“To be able to build something from scratch is a privilege that is very rare to have,” Mr Kenwright said. “And to do that with Dirty Dancing, which we hope will have a really long and successful run in our theatre, is a thrill.
“It's a classic story and we think everyone’s going to feel really close to the experience of watching it on stage.”
He continued: “It’s lovely to think there’s a new demand for a theatre space. There have been quite a few theatres that have opened in the capital over the past decade and they’ve all done really well, so we hope to join that.”
Laura Waters, General Manager at Westfield London, said: “As the UK’s leading destination for shopping and leisure, Westfield London is continually evolving to offer unparalleled experiences, and this purpose-built, state-of-the-art theatre is an exceptional addition. We look forward to welcoming audiences to this spectacular new venue to enjoy a world-class show.”
