Stratford Circus

Infobox Theatre
name = Stratford Circus


caption = Fill image
address = Stratford Centre
city = Newham, London
country =
designation =
latitude =
longitude =
architect = Levitt Bernstein
owner = Newham Sixth Form College
capacity = Circus 1: 314-seat (650 standing)
Circus 2: 93-seat (160 standing)
Circus 3: dance studio
type = Community theatre
opened = 2001
yearsactive =
rebuilt =
closed =
othernames =
production = Student and visiting
currentuse =
website = www.stratford-circus.com

Stratford Circus is a contemporary performing arts venue in Stratford in the London Borough of Newham, East London. It was designed by Levitt Bernstein architects and built with funding from the National Lottery.

Initially opened in 2001, the organisation's board went into voluntary liquidation in August 2003, following a loss of funding. The London Borough of Newham stepped in and assumed interim management responsibility. In 2005, Newham Sixth Form College (NewVIc), who had been a partner from the outset, took over the management and a ten year lease for the venue. Since then the centre has hosted a broad and varied programme of performances, events. Organisations based at the venues include East London Dance, Urban Development, Theatre Venture, and the Newham Youth and Community Education Service. The University of East London's Institute of Performing Arts Development (iPAD) and the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) are also working in partnership with the centre.

The centre hosted the first ever BBC Question Time pre-election debate in 2005 featuring all three leaders of the mainstream political parties: Prime Minister Tony Blair, then Tory Leader Michael Howard and then Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy.

Artists who have performed their work at Stratford Circus include Andy Hamilton, Billy Bragg, John Hegley and Seun Kuti.

References

External links

* [http://www.stratford-circus.com/ Stratford Circus website]