Project summary

The National Theatre Studio was the first purpose-built theatre workshop in the country. It was built in 1958, designed by Lyons Israel Ellis, and Grade-II listed in 2005. The space has been redeveloped under the guidance of Haworth Tompkins Architects and Charcoalblue.

This unique facility, unparalleled in the UK, now provides an experimental and very private working space for performances to be honed and developed prior to presentation at the National Theatre. The refurbished building includes rehearsal studios, writers’ studies, offices and ancillary spaces, a public archive, seminar room, storage and education suite.

The challenge was to develop a design which blends an empty space devoid of distraction for performers with a safe and comprehensively-equipped working space for technicians.

‘The Charcoalblue team are undoubtedly our preferred theatre collaborators.  Their particular combination of rigour, good humour, industry knowledge, follow-through and a genuinely wide-angled attitude to design place them far ahead of their rivals in our experience.  Andy Hayles, who I have worked with continuously for nearly ten years, is an invaluable colleague and one of the best team players in the business.’

Steve Tompkins – Haworth Tompkins Architects