Riverside Studios
Location | Hammersmith London, W6 England |
---|---|
Public transit | Hammersmith (District/Piccadilly) Hammersmith (Circle/Hammersmith & City) |
Owner | Riverside Trust |
Type | Fringe theatre, Cinema, Television studio |
Production | Celebrity Juice, The Apprentice: You're Fired!, The York Realist, The Last Leg |
Opened | 1933 as Riverside Film Studio |
Closed | 2014 for redevelopment |
Website | |
riversidestudios |
Riverside Studios is an arts centre on the north bank of the River Thames in Hammersmith, London, England. The venue plays host to contemporary performance, film, visual art exhibitions and television production.
Having closed for redevelopment in September 2014, Riverside Studios reopened in August 2019 with one of the first television broadcasts from Studio 1 being Channel 4's UK election coverage. In March 2023, the Riverside board announced it was placing the theatre into administration because of debt incurred during the redevelopment.
Film studios 1933-1954
In 1933, a former Victorian iron foundry on Crisp Road, London, was bought by Triumph Films and converted into a relatively compact film studio with two stages and a dubbing theatre. In 1935, the studios were taken over by
.BBC Television studios 1954-1974
In 1954, the studios were acquired by the
Riverside Studios 1974-2014
This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2020) |
The mission of Riverside Studios is to present a high quality arts programme and to make it accessible to all.
In 1974, a charitable trust formed by
Riverside Studios became fully operational in 1978 with Gill's landmark production of The Cherry Orchard, for which Julie Covington turned down the lead in Evita. The venue quickly acquired an international reputation for excellence and innovation with productions including The Changeling with Brian Cox and Robert Lindsay (1978), Measure for Measure with Helen Mirren (1979) and Julius Caesar with Phil Daniels (1980),[9] as well as a variety of international work – including, notably, that of Polish theatre maestro Tadeusz Kantor. In 1978, Riverside hosted the first of many Dance Umbrella seasons, featuring the work of Rosemary Butcher and Richard Alston. Gill also offered residencies to artists including Bruce McLean and Ian Coughlin and companies such as the Black Theatre Co-operative (now NitroBeat).[10] The venue was also used by the BBC for some television recording, including a 1979 episode of Parkinson for which host Michael Parkinson interviewed former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
Art exhibitions (including 'Prints' by
From 1980, David Gothard directed the performing arts program and invited
In November 1987, a 200-seat cinema was opened by the actress Vanessa Redgrave.
In 1990, jazz veteran Adelaide Hall starred in the movie Sophisticated Lady, a documentary about her life, which included a performance of her in concert recorded live at the Riverside Studios.[12]
William Burdett-Coutts (also Artistic Director of
Riverside's Studio 1 has occasionally been used for performances by world-renowned recording artists. In 2002, a special one-off live concert from David Bowie was beamed via satellite to 50,000 fans in 86 cinemas in 26 countries around the planet from Hong Kong to Helsinki. Six years later, having been denied entry to the US, Amy Winehouse and her team were searching for a venue from which they could link live to the 2008 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Riverside rose to the challenge, hosting Amy, her band and her family and friends on a night that saw her win five awards. Footage of the event filmed at Riverside was subsequently used in the box-office record-breaking documentary film Amy (2015 film).
In September 2014, Riverside Studios closed for redevelopment.
Redevelopment 2014-2019
London developer Mount Anvil, working in conjunction with A2 Dominion, redeveloped the old Riverside Studios and the adjacent Queen's Wharf building. Assael Architecture, were employed to design a new building on the site centred around 165 residential flats, with new studio facilities for theatre and television, two cinemas, a riverside restaurant and café/bar as well as flexible event spaces. As part of the redevelopment, a new riverside walkway connects to the Thames Path alongside the late Victorian Hammersmith Bridge.
During the redevelopment, Riverside continued to produce shows including Nirbhaya
Riverside Studios 2019-
Riverside Studios reopened to the public in late 2019.[21]
In both 2020 and 2021, the BBC recorded the Christmas and New Year Specials of Top of the Pops in Riverside's Studio 1. In 2021, Olly Alexander (formerly Years & Years) recorded their New Year's Eve concert in Studio 1 with special guests Kylie Minogue and Pet Shop Boys.
In April 2022, a BBC Heritage Trail plaque, commemorating Riverside's history as BBC studios, was unveiled by Bob Harris (radio presenter), the longest-serving host of The Old Grey Whistle Test. The event was attended by numerous guests who had worked at BBC Riverside Television Studios including Carole Ann Ford and Frazer Hines (Doctor Who) and Anne Reid (Hancock's Half Hour).
In March 2023 the theatre trust announced that the venue was being placed in administration because of the debt incurred by the redevelopment, coupled with increased operating expenses and a reduced revenue stream. The studios operate as normal while the administration process continues.[22]
Studios
- Studio 1 - 6,500 sq ft (600 m2) HD and UHD studio with audience seating for 368 (capacity of 468), Operated by Riverside TV with links to BT Tower[23]
- Studio 2 - 5,077 sq ft (471.7 m2) multi-use black-box studio with audience capacity of 400
- Studio 3 - 1,800 sq ft (170 m2) primarily theatre studio with audience capacity of 180
- Studio 4 - flexible events space with river views with capacity of 100
- Studio 5 - rehearsal/community space with capacity of 60
Selected television productions
- Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (2014)
- CD:UK
- Celebrity Juice (2008 - 2014)
- Have I Got News for You (2020 -)
- Never Mind the Buzzcocks
- Popworld
- Revenge of the Egghead
- Robert's Web
- Russell Howard's Good News
- Sweat the Small Stuff
- T4
- TFI Friday (1996 - 2000)
- The Apprentice: You're Fired!
- The Elaine Paige Show
- The Last Leg
- Top of the Pops
- Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two (2021)
- Jools' Annual Hootenanny (2021/22)
Selected theatre productions
- Joint Stock. Directed by William Gaskill (1978)[24]
- St. Mark's Gospel devised, directed and performed by Alec McCowen (1978)[25]
- Mama Dragon by Black Theatre Co-operative (1980)
- The Biko Inquest with Albert Finney, Nigel Davenport, and Michael Gough (1984)[26]
- The Dance of Death with Alan Bates, Michael Byrne, and Frances de la Tour (1985), from August Strindberg[27]
- Playing the Right Tune by Benjamin Zephaniah (1985)[28]
- Twelfth Night with Richard Briers and Frances Barber. Directed by Kenneth Branagh (1988)[29]
- The Pornography of Performance by The Sydney Front (1989)[30]
- Hamlet with Alan Rickman and Geraldine McEwan (1992)
- The Seven Streams of the River Ota by Robert Lepage (1994)
- Antony and Cleopatra with Vanessa Redgrave (1994)
- Mnemonic by Complicite (2003)[31]
- Phèdre with Sheila Gish. Directed by Deborah Warner (2002)
- Scaramouche Jones with Pete Postlethwaite (2002)
- The Exonerated with Stockard Channing, Aidan Quinn, Danny Glover and Alanis Morissette. Directed by Bob Balaban (2006)[32]
- Spectacular by Forced Entertainment (2008)
- 1800 Acres by David Myers with Cathy Tyson (2008)
- The New Electric Ballroom by Enda Walsh (2009)
- Windmill Baby (winner of the Patrick White Playwrights' Award) by David Milroy and Ningali Lawford (2009)
- Salad Days by Tête à Tête (2010/11 and 2012/13)[33]
- The Royal Shakespeare Company(2010)
- A Round-Heeled Woman: the play with Sharon Gless (2011)[34]
- Mies Julie adapted from August Strindberg's Miss Julie by Yaël Farber (2013)[35]
- Happy Days by Samuel Beckett, Directed by Trevor Nunn (June - July, 2021)[36]
- Ava: The Secret Conversations written by and starring Elizabeth McGovern based on the book by Peter Evans and Ava Gardner (Jan - April 2022)[37]
- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens performed by Eddie Izzard (Feb 2022)
- Operation Mincemeat presented by SpitLip (May - July 2022)
- An Evening with Benjamin Zephaniah (March 2023)
- Flowers for Mrs Harris starring Jenna Russell (Oct - Nov 2023)
- Ulster American by David Ireland starring Woody Harrelson, Andy Serkis, and Louisa Harland. Directed by Jeremy Herrin. (December 2023 - January 2024)
Upcoming
Selected dance productions
- Dance Umbrella (first London Dance Umbrella festival staged at Riverside and the Institute of Contemporary Arts in 1978)
- Empty Signals by Rosemary Butcher (1978)
- Rush by Michael Clark (1982)
- Set & Reset by Trisha Brown (1983)
- Of Shadows and Walls by Rosemary Butcher (1991)
- Twyla Tharp (1994)[38]
- Stormforce by Rophin Vianney (2006)
- Episodes of Light by Rosemary Butcher (2008)
- Mamootot by Batsheva Dance Company (2008)
- Havana Rumba by Toby Gough (2009)
- Circa (contemporary circus) (2009)
- Dancing on Your Grave by Lea Anderson's The Cholmondeleys and The Featherstonehaughs (2009)[39]
- At Swim Two Boys by Earthfall Dance (2012)
- Chelsea Hotel by Earthfall Dance (2013)[40]
Selected live comedy shows
- Lenny Henry (1988)
- Peter Sellers Is Dead (with Goodness Gracious Me (BBC) (1995)[41]
- Stand Up South Africa with Mel Miller (comedian) (2002)
- Ed Byrne: Me Again (2004) and Different Class (2008)
- Bill Bailey: Tinselworm (2007)
- Pappy's: Funergy (2009)
- Richard Herring: The Twelve Tasks of Hercules Terrace (2009)
- Julian Clary (2010)
- Rhod Gilbert
- Count Arthur Strong: The Man Behind the Smile
- Dane Baptiste (2023)
Selected music performances
- Toyah (1979)
- New Order[42] (4 January 1982)
- Sigue Sigue Sputnik (24 July 1985)
- Van Morrison and The Chieftains (1988)
- Prince (1999)
- David Bowie[43] (2003)
- Annie Lennox (2003)[44]
- Pink (2003)
- Metallica[45] (2003)
- Amy Winehouse[46] (2008)
- Stereophonics (2008)
- Kelis (2010)
- Tom Robinson hosted live recording sessions for his BBC Radio 6 Music radio show, show Introducing...[47] in Studio 3.
Photos
References
- ^ "The BBC Riverside Television Studios: Some Aspects of Technical Planning and Equipment". BBC History. 14 January 1957. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ 'Direct Television from Alexandra Palace', by Arthur Dungate. A history of the Riverside Studios. http://www.vtoldboys.com/arthur/river.htm
- ^ Nickels, H.C.; Grubb, D.M.B. (October 1957). "The BBC Riverside Television Studios: Some Aspects of Technical Planning and Equipment" (PDF). BBC Engineering Division Monograph. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "The Play School 50th Anniversary Reunion | The Children's Media Foundation (CMF)". www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org.
- ^ "Doctor Who: The Regeneration Game". BBC. 5 November 2016.
- ^ "Riverside Studios". Theatres Trust. 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ Matlock, Glen (2006). I was a Teenage Sex Pistol. Reynolds & Hearn.
- ^ "Peter Gill, playwright and theatre director". www.petergill7.co.uk.
- ^ "Black Theatre Co-operative – Unfinished Histories".
- ^ "Poster | Hockney, David | V&A Search the Collections". V and A Collections. 7 November 2019.
- ^ "Jazz on a Summer's Night: Sophisticated Lady (1990)", BFI.
- ^ "Riverside Studios – Our History". Riverside Studios. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ "NIRBHAYA the Play". www.nirbhayatheplay.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "International Women's Day events in London". Evening Standard. 5 March 2014.
- ^ Brantley, Ben (17 May 2015). "Review: 'Nirbhaya,' a Lamentation and a Rallying Cry for Indian Women" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Raz - Trafalgar Studios - ATG Tickets". www.atgtickets.com.
- ^ "Simon Callow conjures a Christmas treat with his one-man carol". Evening Standard. 19 December 2016.
- ^ "BBC Arts - BBC Arts - Underground hit: Watch critically acclaimed coal mine drama Land of Our Fathers in full". BBC.
- ^ "BBC Four - Northern Ballet: 1984". BBC.
- ^ Smurthwaite, Nick (7 November 2016). "Theatre's digital future finds a £50m home at Riverside Studios".
- ^ Wiegand, Chris (30 March 2023). "London's Riverside Studios to enter administration". The Guardian.
- ^ "RTVS – Riverside TV Studios". www.riversidetv.co.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
- ^ "Stephen Lowe". www.stephen-lowe.co.uk.
- ^ Billington, Michael (7 February 2017). "Alec McCowen obituary" – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ Hébert, Gail (29 January 2009). "From our pictures files - 1984". Richmond and Twickenham Times.
- ^ "Theatre Week". The Stage. 30 May 1985. p. 23.
- ^ "Benjamin Zephaniah - Literature". literature.britishcouncil.org.
- ^ "Theatre » 12 Dec 1987 » The Spectator Archive". The Spectator Archive.
- ISBN 978-90-420-3356-6
- ^ Gardner, Lyn (8 January 2003). "Mnemonic, Riverside Studios, London" – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ Gardner, Lyn (27 February 2006). "The Exonerated , Riverside Studios, London" – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ Christiansen, Rupert (21 December 2010). "Salad Days, Riverside Studios, review" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Cavendish, Dominic (27 October 2011). "A Round-Heeled Woman, Riverside Studios, London" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Spencer, Charles (12 March 2013). "Mies Julie, Riverside Studios, review" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Curtis, Nick (18 June 2021). "Happy Days, Riverside Studios, review" – via www.standard.co.uk.
- ^ Gillinson, Miriam (26 January 2022). "Ava, Riverside Studios, London" – via www.guardian.com.
- ^ "DANCE / Simply, ecstasy". The Independent. 6 March 1994.
- ^ "Dancing On Your Grave, Riverside Studios, London". The Independent. 18 February 2009.
- ^ Norman, Neil. "Chelsea Hotel review at Riverside Studios London | Review | Dance".
- ^ "BBC News | Entertainment | A night of Gracious comedy". news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Riverside - BBC Two, England". BBC Genome.
- ^ "David Bowie, Riverside Studios, London and various cinemas". The Independent. 10 September 2003.
- ^ "Annie Lennox - Solo".
- ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com.[dead YouTube link]
- TheGuardian.com.
- ^ "BBC Radio 6 Music - BBC Introducing with Tom Robinson". BBC.
Sources
- Who's Who in the Theatre 17th edition, Gale Publishing (1982) ISBN 0-8103-0235-7
- Staging Beckett in Great Britain, Bloomsbury Methuen Drama (2016) ISBN 9781474240178
External links
- Riverside Studios – official site
- Riverside TV Studios Ltd
- The Riverside Story
- Riverside Studios history