Cockpit Theatre, Theatre training venue in Marylebone, London, United Kingdom.
The Cockpit Theatre is a performance space in Marylebone, London, with a flexible stage that can be arranged for different types of productions. The stage area measures approximately 7 by 9 meters, and the auditorium holds about 240 seats arranged so that audiences surround the stage on all sides.
The theater was built between 1969 and 1970 and was London's first purpose-designed theatre in the round since the Great Fire. It was designed by architect Edward Mendelsohn and later came under the management of City of Westminster College.
The venue hosts opera performances, theatrical classics, and contemporary productions created by students and professional artists. Audiences sit on all sides of the stage, experiencing performances from multiple viewpoints.
The auditorium is compact and offers clear sightlines from every seat since the stage sits in the center. It is best to check opening times in advance, as the building primarily functions as a training and performance facility.
The theatre was London's first purpose-built theatre in the round in several centuries, representing a conscious return to this classical performance format. This choice shaped British theatre architecture and influenced conversations about how audience spaces and stages should relate to each other.
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