View source for Battersea Arts Centre

{{Short description|Performance space in London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox Theatre
|name           = Battersea Arts Centre
|image          = Battersea Arts Centre 09.JPG
|caption        =
|address        = [[Lavender Hill]]
|city           = [[London]], {{postcode|SW|11}}
|country        = United Kingdom
|designation    = [[Listed building|Grade II* listed]]
|coordinates    = {{coord|51.4648|-0.1607|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|architect      = [[Edward William Mountford|E. W. Mountford]]
|owner          = BAC Trust
|capacity       = 640 (500 Grand Hall; 140 Lower Hall)
|type           = [[Producing house]]
|opened         = {{Start date and age|1981}}
|yearsactive    = 
|rebuilt        = 
|closed         = 
|othernames     = {{Plainlist|
* 1893: [[Battersea (vestry)|Vestry of St. Mary]]
* 1900: [[Battersea Town Hall]]
}}
|production     = 
|currentuse     = 
|publictransit ={{rail-interchange|gb|Rail}} {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} {{rws|Clapham Junction}}
|website        = {{URL|www.bac.org.uk}}
}}

The '''Battersea Arts Centre''' ("'''BAC'''") is a [[performance]] space specialising in [[Theater|theatre]] productions. Located near [[Clapham Junction railway station]] in [[Battersea]], in the [[London Borough of Wandsworth]], it was formerly [[Battersea Town Hall]]. It is a [[Grade II* listed building]].

In March 2015, while a major programme of renovation works were underway, the Grand Hall was severely damaged by fire. Approximately 70% of the theatre, including the 200-capacity Council Chamber, the Scratch Bar and the Members Library, was saved from the fire and remains open.

The building is now used for theatre shows, weddings, filming, shoots and meeting room hire.

==History==
{{Main|Battersea Town Hall}}
[[File:Battersea Town Hall.jpg|thumb|left|Battersea Town Hall in 1893]]
The building, designed in 1891 by [[E. W. Mountford]],<ref name="EH1184293">{{National Heritage List for England|num=1184293|access-date= 14 March 2015}}</ref> opened in 1893 as Battersea Town Hall, the administrative headquarters of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Battersea|Borough of Battersea]], shortly after the borough was transferred from the county of [[Surrey]] to the newly formed [[County of London]]. It is built from Suffolk red brick and [[Bath stone]],<ref name="EH1184293" /> on the site of [[Jane Senior]]{{'}}s ''Elm House'', a villa with a small wooded estate.{{sfn|Saint|2013|p=13}}{{sfn|Thom|2013|p=22}}

[[Bertrand Russell]]'s essay ''[[Why I Am Not a Christian]]'' was originally given as a talk in the hall, on 6 March 1927, under the auspices of the South London Branch of the [[National Secular Society]].{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

Following proposals by [[London Borough of Wandsworth]] to demolish large parts of the building, a vociferous and ultimately successful campaign to save it was fought by the [[Victorian Society]] and Battersea Society <ref>Victorian Society Annual Report 1967-68, London 1968 p.10-11</ref> it was given [[Grade II* listed]] protected status in February 1970.<ref name="EH1184293" />

===Organ===
In 1901, a large pipe organ was installed in the Grand Hall by [[Norman & Beard]].{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} This was an unusual instrument designed by [[Robert Hope-Jones]], a pioneering organ builder who invented many aspects of the modern pipe organ. His ideas went on to form the basis of the [[Wurlitzer]] theatre organ in the 1920s and 30s. It was said to be the largest Hope-Jones organ to survive, and was partially restored in 2008–2009. In the 2015 fire, although much of the organ was destroyed, including the console, bellows, wiring and architectural cases, the soundboards and much of the pipework survived as they were off site undergoing restoration. A specification of the organ can be found on the [[National Pipe Organ Register]].<ref>{{National Pipe Organ Register|N17247|access-date=22 February 2015}}</ref>

===Arts centre===
[[File:Battersea Arts Centre 05.JPG|thumb|Battersea Arts Centre]]
[[File:Battersea Arts Centre 18.JPG|thumb|Interior]]
[[File:Battersea Arts Centre 24.JPG|thumb|[[William Calder Marshall]] – ''Zephyr and Aurora'']]
The building became a community arts centre in 1974. BAC currently{{when|date=March 2015}} receives grants towards the building's operating costs from [[Arts Council England]] and the [[London Borough of Wandsworth]], among others. The centre is a registered charity.<ref name="CC">{{EW charity|282857}}</ref> The theatre was founded in 1981.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jubb|first=David|date=2011-03-08|title=Turning BAC the clock: Battersea Arts Centre hits 30 – in pictures|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/gallery/2011/mar/08/birthday-bac-battersea-arts-centre-in-pictures|access-date=2018-10-12|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Following the departure of Tom Morris in 2003, [[David Jubb (theatre director)|David Jubb]] became Battersea Arts Centre's Artistic Director in 2004, serving as Joint Artistic Director with David Micklem between 2007 and 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831350994747/David+Micklem+steps+down+as+joint+artistic+director+at+BAC.html|title=Whatsonstage.com report of Micklem's departure.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://playgroundprojects.bac.org.uk/pages/8|title=Playground Projects|website=playgroundprojects.bac.org.uk}}</ref> In October 2018, David Jubb announced that he would step down from his role in April 2019.<ref name="Wiegand">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/oct/12/battersea-arts-centre-seeks-new-artistic-director-to-succeed-david-jubb|title=Battersea Arts Centre seeks new artistic director after David Jubb stands down|last=Wiegand|first=Chris|date=2018-10-12|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-10-12}}</ref> Tarek Iskander is Battersea Arts Centre's current Artistic Director and CEO, appointed in December 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-21|title=New artistic director of Battersea Arts Centre is Tarek Iskander|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/dec/21/new-artistic-director-of-battersea-arts-centre-is-tarek-iskander|access-date=2020-12-16|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

BAC operates a "scratch" methodology as part of its "ladder of development" for new work. Performances are shown at various stages of development to an outside audience, whose input and criticism guides the further evolution of the work.

====Past productions====
* [[Punchdrunk (theatre company)|Punchdrunk Theatre Company]]'s promenade performance of "[[The Masque of the Red Death]]" by [[Edgar Allan Poe]] ran through most of the building from September 2007 to April 2008. The performance was interactive, and was seen by over 400,000 people over its seven-month sellout run.<ref name="Wiegand"/> Since audience members were required to wear masks throughout the performance, a number of famous actors attended the play anonymously, including [[Jeff Goldblum]] and [[Joanna Lumley]].<ref name="whatsonstage.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/10-things-you-didnt-know-battersea-arts-centre_47105.html|title=10 things you didn't know about Battersea Arts Centre|access-date=2018-10-12|language=en-GB}}</ref>
* Richard Thomas's early work as Kombat Opera, including ''Tourette's Diva'', leading to the development of ''[[Jerry Springer - The Opera]]'', which premièred at BAC in 2002, before transferring to the [[Royal National Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/jerry-springer-the-operakombat-opera-battersea-arts-centremay-we-borrow-your-husbandgrantworks-9166966.html|title=Jerry Springer the Opera/Kombat Opera, Battersea Arts|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-10-12|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtishows.com/people/richard-thomas-0|title=Richard Thomas|website=Music Theatre International|language=en|access-date=2018-10-12}}</ref>
* ''Jackson's Way'', the winner of the 2004 [[Perrier Award]] in [[Edinburgh]]. A one-man show which mocks the world of motivational speaking and embraces it through encouraging 'pointless actions'.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ayoungertheatre.com/review-jacksons-way-battersea-arts-centre/|title=Review: Jackson's Way, Battersea Arts Centre - A Younger Theatre|date=2015-12-04|work=A Younger Theatre|access-date=2018-10-12|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edinburghguide.com/festival/2004/fringe/perrier_awards.shtml|title=The Edinburgh festival 2004 -- Perrier Awards 2004|website=www.edinburghguide.com|access-date=2018-10-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3609114.stm|title=The rapid rise of Perrier winner|date=2004-08-29|access-date=2018-10-12|language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Use in film and TV===
The old Town Hall was used as a location in the 1975 film ''[[Slade In Flame]]'' featuring rock band [[Slade]]. The Town Hall was the location for the 21st birthday party of the character played by Dave Hill.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.reelstreets.com/films/slade-in-flame-aka-flame/|title=Reelstreets {{!}}   Slade in Flame (aka Flame)|last=Monkey|first=Silver|website=www.reelstreets.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-12}}</ref> 

On 8 and 9 October 2012, the pop band [[McFly]] used the location to film a [[Music video|video]] for their single ''[[Love Is Easy (McFly song)|Love Is Easy]]''.<ref name="whatsonstage.com" />

The [[Sky Arts]] TV series [[Portrait Artist of the Year]] is filmed at BAC.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Battersea Arts Centre invite you to the filming of Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year|url=https://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/news/17430153.battersea-arts-centre-invite-filming-sky-arts-portrait-artist-year/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Wandsworth Times|language=en}}</ref>

===Beer festival===
[[File:Battersea Arts Centre 31.JPG|thumb|Battersea Beer Festival in the Great Hall, before the 2015 fire destroyed the vaulted roof and wall decorations.]]
Every February since 1991, the BAC has hosted the three-day-long [[Battersea Beer Festival]].<ref name=BBF_01>{{cite web|title=24th Battersea Beer Festival|url=http://batterseabeerfestival.org.uk/|work=Battersea Beer Festival|publisher=CAMRAswl|access-date=10 February 2014}}</ref>

===Murders===
{{Main|Battersea Arts Centre incident}}
On 31 January 1998 the Annual Rockers Reunion was held at the centre.{{sfn|Sher|Marsden|2006|p=291}} Members of the Outcasts Motorcycle Club served as the security at the reunion.{{sfn|Sher|Marsden|2006|p=291}} In a coordinated attack via microphone headsets, about 40 members of the [[Hells Angels]] from various chapters all over England arrived uninvited at the reunion armed with baseball bats, knives, iron bars and machetes.{{sfn|Sher|Marsden|2006|p=291}} The Hells Angels proceeded to attack and beat various Outcasts.{{sfn|Sher|Marsden|2006|p=291}} Two of the Outcasts, David Armstrong and Malcolm St. Clair, were killed during the melee.{{sfn|Sher|Marsden|2006|p=291}} Only one Hells Angel was convicted of charges relating to the incident. Ronald "Gut" Wait, the vice president of the Angels Essex chapter, was convicted of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.{{sfn|Sher|Marsden|2006|p=292}}

===Fire===
On 13 March 2015, during a major renovation programme, a fire broke out in the roof, and engulfed the building, causing severe structural damage, including the collapse of the tower. The Grand Hall and Lower Hall were destroyed.<ref name="SaveBAC">{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalfundingscheme.org/BAC012|title=Save Battersea Arts Centre|last=Jubb|first=David|date=14 March 2015|work=[[National Funding Scheme]]|access-date=14 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315004827/https://www.nationalfundingscheme.org/BAC012|archive-date=15 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> No injuries were reported.<ref name="LES-fire">{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/huge-fire-breaks-out-at-battersea-arts-centre-10107170.html|title=Bystanders watch in horror as huge fire breaks out at Battersea Arts Centre|date=13 March 2015|work=[[London Evening Standard]]|access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref>

The fire was tackled by about 80 [[London Fire Brigade]] firefighters and 12 [[fire engine]]s.<ref name="Walker">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/13/major-fire-at-battersea-arts-centre|title=Fire severely damages Battersea Arts Centre in London|last1=Walker|first1=Peter|last2=Quinn|first2=Ben|last3=Rawlinson|first3=Kevin|date=13 March 2015|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=14 March 2015}}</ref> Firefighters were able to save a large part of the building including several of the smaller theatre spaces.  Two shows went ahead as planned one day after the fire,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-31893529|title=Battersea Arts Centre fire: Venue partly reopens|date=15 March 2015|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> and BAC has maintained much of its artistic programme, despite losing the ability to hire out the larger venues (a significant source of income).

Jubb launched a fundraising campaign to help the centre soon afterwards.,<ref name="SaveBAC" /> and in May announced that during the rebuilding of the Grand Hall, BAC would also create a large off-site theatre from mid-2016 to end of 2017 "for the presentation of visionary and exciting new theatre while we rebuild the Grand Hall".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://batterseaartscentreblog.com/2015/05/25/a-new-mission-for-battersea-arts-centre-and-our-next-steps/|title=A new mission for Battersea Arts Centre and our next steps|date=25 May 2015|website=Battersea Arts Centre: Blog}}</ref>

In 2018, the rebuilding of the Grand Hall was completed, overseen by architects [[Haworth Tompkins]], who had been working with BAC on a phased transformation of the centre for over a decade. The vaulted plaster ceiling of the Grand Hall was replaced with a similar design in three layers of [[CNC]]-cut plywood; adjacent corridors were left scorched and bare of plaster. The mosaic floor, manufactured by [[Jess Rust]] in the 19th century, survived the fire.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thorpe |first1=Harriet |title=Battersea Arts Centre culminates a 12-year redesign in style |url=https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/battersea-arts-centre-haworth-tompkins-london |access-date=23 July 2020 |work=Wallpaper |date=13 December 2019}}</ref>
{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
*{{cite book|title=Survey of London, Volume 49: Battersea: Public, Commercial and Cultural |chapter=1. Public Buildings|editor-first=Andrew |editor-last=Saint|date=2013 |isbn=9780300196160|publisher=Yale University Press|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/architecture/sites/bartlett/files/49.1._public_buildings_chapter.pdf}}
*{{Cite book |title=Survey of London, Volume 50: Battersea: Houses and Housing|chapter=10. Lavender Hill: Introduction|editor-first=Colin |editor-last=Thom|date=2013 |isbn=9780300196160|publisher=Yale University Press|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/architecture/sites/bartlett/files/50.10_lavender_hill_intro.pdf }}
*{{cite book |last1=Sher |first1=Julian |last2=Marsden |first2=William |title=Angels of Death: Inside the Bikers' Empire of Crime |date=2006 |publisher=Alfred Knopf Canada |location=Toronto |isbn=9780307370327}}

==External links==
* {{Commonscatinline}}
* {{official|http://www.bac.org.uk/ }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161121051311/https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/partner/battersea-arts-centre Battersea Arts Centre at Google Cultural Institute]

{{Theatres in London}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1974 establishments in England]]<!-- as Arts Centre -->
[[Category:1981 establishments in England]]<!-- as a theatre -->
[[Category:Theatres completed in 1981]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1893]]
[[Category:Theatres in the London Borough of Wandsworth]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in the London Borough of Wandsworth]]
[[Category:Arts centres in London]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Battersea]]