Dance is one of London’s great cultural forces, shaping how communities gather, celebrate and express themselves. But what does it take to design a building dedicated to movement, performance and public life?
In 2025, Sadler’s Wells opened its fourth London theatre: Sadler’s Wells East, a new centre for creativity, performance, learning and innovation at the heart of East Bank in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. More than a performance venue, it forms part of a wider vision for culture-led regeneration in east London.
This visit offers a chance to explore how architecture can respond to the precise physical demands of dance while also creating a welcoming civic space for the surrounding community. From the foyer to the auditorium, studios and backstage areas, we will look at how the building works both on and off stage.
The tour will be led by Eimear Hanratty, Associate Director at O’Donnell + Tuomey Architects. Since 2015, she has led the practice’s London office, working on major new buildings including projects for the V&A and Sadler’s Wells at the Olympic Park. She also sits on the Design South East Expert Panel, advising local authorities on significant schemes across London and the South East, and teaches at UAL Central Saint Martins, focusing on design and the technical challenges of sustainability.
Eimear will share insights into the design process, the technical and spatial challenges of creating a theatre tailored to dancers’ needs, and the thinking behind ensuring the building feels open and connected to its neighbourhood. How do you design for movement, flexibility and acoustic precision while also responding to climate and community?
What to expect:
- A guided tour through the foyer, auditorium, studios and backstage areas
- First-hand insight into the design and delivery of a specialist performance building
- Discussion of sustainability and the climate considerations shaping contemporary theatre design
- Time for questions and conversation
Join us to explore how cultural infrastructure shapes London’s everyday life, and what it means to create a theatre that belongs both to performers and to the city around it.
Non-member tickets will only be released on 2nd March. Join now to book at the discounted members rate.
Photograph credits - Nick Kane / Peter Molloy