Collective Works raises curtain on temporary Old Vic theatre in Waterloo
Collective Works designed and erected a 200-seat temporary theatre in Waterloo with the Old Vic Community Company.
It was built in seven days from reusable, reclaimed and rented materials which will be repurposed for future community projects.
Its main structure was scaffolding and it was roofed with a tensioned tarpaulin. Instead of foundations it relied on water ballast
The structure was designed to rise above the stage, allowing a second level for the cast and choir to perform.
The theatre, constructed on Millennium Green between the Old Vic Theatre and Waterloo Station in central London, hosted two weeks of performances watched by 2,000 people, before being disassembled last week.
The build was carried out by the architects, scaffolders, set builders, production team and members of the company which was founded in 2013 and is London’s largest inclusive theatre company.
Christopher Daniel of Collective Works said: “Our brief was to design a place where up to 200 people create theatre in front of a nightly audience of 200. Add in a desire for multiple bicycles to cross the stage while a live band accompanies a choir of 50, and you find yourself with an opportunity to create a fairly unique performance venue.”
The architects, who brought experience of temporary structures and performance spaces, worked with structural engineer Corbett & Tasker and set designer Carla Goodman.