Entertainment in The Thames Gateway
Five great ways to be entertained from the world class and internationally renowned to more local theatre groups and creative spaces
Stratford Circus
Since opening in 2001, Stratford Circus has established itself as a great centre for the performing arts, a creative hub for local artistic endeavours and even just a great place to meet up. Visiting theatre companies present shows and workshops for all ages, while local groups perform vibrant new works that often fuse classical forms with themes of life in modern day East London.
The Albany
The Albany, in the heart of Deptford, is a music, theatre and digital media performance space, as well as home to 18 community and arts organisations. There’s also a full programme of children’s theatre, including puppet stories and digital workshops for young people, complete with a 24 track studio, live recording facility, cameras and edit suites. The Albany has a café and garden terrace and a very popular bar that remains open during music and theatre performances.
Greenwich Theatre
An old Victorian music hall has been adapted into a contemporary venue. With its intimate auditorium, the theatre is ideally suited to musical theatre. Committed to showcasing new writers and composers, the venue has become known for the annual ‘Musical futures’ festival, and even played host to the first ever London Cabaret Convention.
O2
The Millennium Dome has been reborn as the 20,000-seat O2 Arena, which has hosted a huge range of international bands and performers. Surrounding it are shops, bars, restaurants, and IndigO2, a 2000-seat venue with state-of-the-art sound and ‘seven-second pint’ pourers at the bars! The exhibition centre, 11 screen cinema and Entertainment Avenue – an indoor shopping mall as long as New Bond Street – all add to this vast leisure and entertainment destination.
Miskin Theatre
A fantastic local theatre with regular live shows, and an ethos of theatrical support for young Dartford based performers, companies, directors and producers. In addition to its own productions, new experimental work is created for short runs on a monthly basis, and facilities include an 80-seater studio theatre, three dance studios, two recording studios and a rehearsal space.
