Barbican Centre, London
Official website: http://www.barbican.org.uk
History
from the official website
A Grade II listed building, the Barbican is Europe’s largest multi-arts and conference venue and one of London’s best examples of Brutalist architecture. It was developed from designs by architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon as part of a utopian vision to transform an area of London left devastated by bombing during the Second World War.
The Centre took over a decade to build and was opened by The Queen in 1982, who declared it ‘one of the modern wonders of the world’ with the building seen as a landmark in terms of its scale, cohesion and ambition. Its stunning spaces and unique location at the heart of the Barbican Estate have made it an internationally recognised venue, set within an urban landscape acknowledged as one of the most significant architectural achievements of the 20th century.
Venues
Theatre
Style of Room: Raked Auditorium
Total Capacity: 1156
681 Stalls, 195 Circle, 143 Upper circle, 137 Gallery
Stage width: 16.5m
Stage depth: 13.5m
Pros. height: 8m
Grid height: 33.5m
Stage Machinery installed by Halls, specified by Theatre Projects (1979) The Safety Curtain is a mirrored angular structure in two parts - one section rises from below the stage and the other descends from the roof.
Hall
Style of Room: Raked Auditorium
Total Capacity: 1943
855 Stalls, 767 Circle, 321 Balcony
Selected Past Productions (under construction)
- Goodnight Oscar (31 July - 21 September 2025) starring Sean Hayes, Rosalie Craig, Ben Rappaport
- My Neighbour Totoro (Sat 8 Oct 2022 - Sat 21 Jan 2023)
- Anything Goes (2021)
- The Encounter (February / March 2016)
- Les Miserables (September - December 1985)
The Theatres Trust
Barbican Centre, London on the Theatres Trust Database
Links to information about equipment at Barbican Centre, London over the years
- Galaxy (Strand)
- MMS (Strand)
- QM500 Lighting Control (Avolites)
- E-Type (Cadac)
Documents
MMS at the Barbican Centre, Hall (1982)
Click on thumbnail to enlarge
[378kb JPEG]
From Lincoln Parkhouse Collection
Sound Control at the Barbican Centre, Hall (1982)
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[71kb JPEG]
From Lincoln Parkhouse Collection
Mentions of Barbican Centre, London in indexed documents
Barbican Centre for Arts and Conferences
Barbican, London EC2Y SOS
Client: The Corporation of the City of London
Consultant Architects: Chamberlin, Powell and Bon (Barbican)
Structural Engineers: Ove Arup and Partners
Services Engineers: G H Buckle and Partners
Acoustic Consultant: Hugh Creighton, MA, ARIBA
Theatre Consultants: Theatre Projects Ltd.
Auditorium and Foyer seating: Robin Day
Quantity Surveyors: Davis, Belfield and Everest
Main Contractor: John Laing Construction Ltd.