King's Cross Theatre team to launch new 'fully flexible' space in Wembley

A new adaptable venue that can seat up to 2,000 people is to open in north-west London, headed by the team that ran the former King’s Cross Theatre.

Called Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, the venue will open this autumn, offering what its managers describe as a “fully flexible” space that can be modified to suit the individual requirements of producers’ shows.

It is being run by Troubadour Theatres, a new company formed by producers Tristan Baker and Oliver Royds, who hope the Troubadour brand will be rolled out to a number of other spaces around the capital.

Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre will be based within the former Fountain Studios in Wembley, which was once home to programmes such as The X Factor, and will operate alongside a bar and restaurant.

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Royds told The Stage he wanted the theatre to become a “destination venue” for locals and people outside of Wembley.

“We are about offering a slightly different experience, and I think the flexibility that something like Fountain Studios offers is amazing, for audiences, producers and creatives,” he said.

Royds added that the venue would address a shortage of theatre spaces in London, particularly for producers looking to do shows that could otherwise be restricted by the listed status of traditional venues.

“As we are not listed, we are able to provide that flexibility, with a space that can be in the round, or a proscenium arch, a traverse, or even have the seating removed completely, to be wholly immersive,” he said.

Troubadour Theatres will not be acting as a producer for the space, but Royds said the theatre would accommodate a variety of genres, including dance.

He added: “We are primarily focused on theatre, but the term ‘theatre’ is broad these days, and we want to create a destination venue that people come out to.”

Royds also outlined a commitment to accessibility, both in terms of affordable ticket prices and in being fully accessible to customers with disabilities.

He said the theatre would have increased leg room and ample toilets, particularly for female customers.

Royds said more theatres were in the planning, adding: “Hopefully there will be many more. This is something we are really excited about.”