PLAYHOUSE
EAST.
Independent theatre, new writing development, creative studios, and home of the Actors East community on Kingsland Road. Built by artists. Open to everyone.
Section 01 / How we got here
From a
dilapidated
building.
Playhouse East opened in 2024 in a half-collapsed former factory on Kingsland Road. Two years on it's a working theatre, five rehearsal rooms, a café-stage downstairs and a small army of working theatre people who run it.
We built it ourselves — no public funding, no developer behind us. Sprung floors laid by hand. Original arch windows uncovered behind plasterboard. A bar made from the old loading-dock door.
We programme new writing because that's where the next decade comes from. We charge what we charge because the rooms have to pay for the rooms. And we keep mornings pay-what-you-can because the people who built this place still need somewhere to work.
Four ways
into the building.
Most people come for one thing — the rest is here when you need it.
Watch a
Show.
New theatre, festivals, late jazz, work-in-progress nights and independent performance — most weeks of the year. Box office runs on Ticket Tailor.
Hire a
Room.
Five working spaces — sprung floors, daylight, sound. Affordable rehearsal, classes, workshops, shoots and events. Pay what you can mornings.
Bring
Work Here.
Submissions, visiting companies, scratch nights and longer-form development. Open year-round, no submission fee. Splits are 70/30 in your favour.
The
Residents.
A community of creative-industry tenants share the building with us — film editors, costume makers, sound, casting — working alongside the theatre.
What's
on.
New writing, devised work, late jazz, poetry — all on now or coming soon at 258 Kingsland Road. Filed in chronological order.
Now Playing— №01 / Programme · The Playhouse
Casserole.
A new play by Eda Tüzün, directed by Marlow Kearns. A first play, a hot kitchen, and everything to lose. Ends Saturday — seven performances remaining.
A Mouthful of Birds.
Goat & Beam Co. · Devised. Six bodies, one room. Loud.No Net Below.
Solo by Jamil Akram · Late slot · Three nights only.Late Night Jazz.
The East Trio + featured guest · Walk-up only.February Sharings.
Five new pieces × 20 min each · One night only.The Salt Room.
Hare & Anchor Theatre · New writing · Two-week run.Loose Tongue Poetry.
Open mic + featured readers · First Tuesday every month.Home of
Actors East.
Home of
Actors East.
Actors East is the acting studio that built Playhouse East. Since 2008 it has trained actors, writers and directors in East London — long-form Meisner, craft-based classes, and the working-artist development that grew, eventually, into a venue of its own. The studio runs on its own site, with its own door.
Hire a
room.
What
You
Can
We’ve subsidised over 20,000 hours of studio time for unfunded artists and projects. We will always offer rehearsal space on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis. Always.
05.B · Studios
Five working
rooms.
Sprung floors, daylight, mirrors, sound. Real rooms — built for rehearsal and the working day. Transparent pricing, no minimums, deposits on multi-day blocks only.
- Studio Tardieu£12 — 22 / hr
- Studio Brecht£14 — 24 / hr
- Studio Kane£10 — 18 / hr
- The PlayhousePOA
- The DownstairsPOA
05.C · Events & classes
Workshops,
shoots, events.
Hold a class, run a shoot, throw a launch. The Playhouse for talks & screenings, Studio Tardieu for movement and workshop work, The Downstairs for parties & gigs.
- Workshops & classesFrom £10 / hr
- Photo & film shootsDay rate · POA
- Launches & eventsPOA · w/ bar
- Block bookings10% off · 5+ days