The Place

The Place is a dance and performance centre in Duke’s Road near Euston in the London Borough of Camden. The building was once the headquarters of the 20th Middlesex (Artists’) Volunteer Rifle Corps, designed by Robert William Edis and completed in 1889. It later became known as the drill hall for the Artists Rifles, a unit that trained soldiers before the First World War. The hall stood empty after the Second World War until the Contemporary Ballet Trust took it over in 1969. The Royal Shakespeare Company used the space in the early 1970s for experimental theatre under director Buzz Goodbody. The building’s transformation into a dance hub began when the Contemporary Ballet Trust established the London Contemporary Dance School and Theatre in the late 1970s. Richard Alston led the resident dance company until 2020, while the National Lottery funded a major refurbishment in 1999. Six new studios replaced the old block, followed by the Weston and Monument Studios in 2008. Bloomberg sponsored The Place Prize from 2004 to 2013, a competition for contemporary choreographers. Visitors find a refurbished drill hall with a striking barrel-vaulted ceiling and six modern dance studios. The Weston and Monument Studios provide additional space for rehearsals and performances. The building remains the home of London Contemporary Dance School and hosts regular shows in the Robin Howard Dance Theatre. Its location near Euston makes it easy to reach, and the surrounding area offers cafes and transport links. The Place continues to shape British dance, blending history with contemporary creativity.