Almeida Theatre

The Almeida Theatre stands in Islington, a short walk from Upper Street. The building itself dates from 1837, when it housed a library, reading room, museum, laboratory and a lecture hall for the Islington Literary and Scientific Society. Designed by Robert Lewis Roumieu and Alexander Dick Gough, it later became a club, a Salvation Army citadel and even a novelty factory before being rescued for theatre in 1972. Grade II listed since 1972, the present auditorium seats 325 and retains the original façade. The theatre’s reputation rests on bold programming and distinguished artists. Pierre Audi led the campaign that reopened it in 1980 and built an annual festival of contemporary music and performance. Composers such as Steve Reich, Philip Glass and Arvo Pärt heard their works premiered here, while directors like Peter Brook and Robert Wilson brought international productions. In the 1990s Ian McDiarmid and Jonathan Kent made the Almeida a powerhouse of new and classic plays, winning an Olivier Award in 1993. Inside, the auditorium’s intimate scale focuses attention on the stage, with excellent sight-lines from every seat. The restored interior keeps the character of the former lecture hall, while modern technical systems support ambitious productions. Outside, Almeida Street is lined with cafés and bookshops, and Upper Street offers further dining and shopping. The theatre’s programme continues to move between contemporary drama and adventurous revivals, keeping Islington a lively centre for the arts.