Tricycle Theatre Reveals £5.5 Million Capital Development Project

Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham, has announced plans for an ambitious £5.5 million capital development project that will see the theatre's auditorium and front of house spaces transformed, with work scheduled to take place from summer 2016. Arts Council England has contributed £3.1 million to the scheme with a public campaign to raise additional funds set to be announced in due course.

Indhu Rubasingham, Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre said: "This vital upgrade will help us to secure The Tricycle's future and enable us to realise our ambitious vision by ensuring our venue is truly accessible and open to all. We are hugely excited about this and are deeply grateful to all those who have contributed to date."

The project will increase the size of the auditorium by approximately 25%, and quadruple the number of permanent wheelchair accessible seats in the auditorium from 2 to 8, reinforcing the Tricycle's commitment to ensuring its programme is fully accessible to all. The new seating will be fully adaptable to allow for various staging configurations including in the round, cabaret and traverse.

The project will also create a new café on Kilburn High Street and greatly improved front of house facilities, enabling the venue to continue to thrive as a cultural hub for local residents and communities from across Brent and Camden. This vital work will form an integral part of the regeneration of Kilburn High Road.

Essential work will also be undertaken to make the entirety of backstage accessible and improve entry and exit points to the stage for the installation of productions.

Tricycle ambassador Adrian Lester has today pledged his support for the campaign. He said: "Under the leadership of Indhu Rubasingham, the Tricycle has blossomed as a venue in and for the community whilst proving itself as an incredible production powerhouse which rivals any UK theatre venue. I am delighted to be supporting this campaign that will lead to the transformation of the auditorium, with increased capacity, improved sightlines, greater accessibility and a better experience for both audiences and actors alike."

The Tricycle has commissioned architects ChapmanWaterworth to lead the project. ChapmanWaterworth's previous projects have included the Rugby Football Union's new headquarters at Twickenham Stadium, lfracombe Museum Extension and Masterplan and high profile retail developments in Covent Garden and Bond Street in London.

Architect Greg Chapman from ChampanWaterworth who previously worked on the redevelopment of the Hampstead Theatre said: "We are absolutely delighted to be working with the Tricycle Theatre to create a more accessible and welcoming environment. We recognize the Tricycle operates at the highest level and we are proud to be a part of the team that will ensure their refurbished premises match their future aspirations. We believe that when completed, the changes will help ensure the Tricycle continues to be both an integral part of the local cultural fabric of this vibrant community and London as a whole."

The Tricycle plan to start works in the second half of 2016 with completion due in 2017 and will continue to programme work throughout the capital development project.

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