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Roundhouse (venue)

Coordinates:51°32′36″N0°09′07″W/ 51.5432°N 0.1519°W/51.5432; -0.1519
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(Redirected fromCamden Roundhouse)
For other uses, seeRoundhouse (disambiguation).

Roundhouse
Main entrance to the Roundhouse
Map
LocationChalk Farm,London,England
Coordinates51°32′36″N0°09′07″W/ 51.5432°N 0.1519°W/51.5432; -0.1519
Public transitLondon UndergroundChalk Farm
Capacity1,800 standing; 1,500 seated[1]
Construction
Built1846–1847
Renovated2004–2005
ArchitectRobert Stephenson,Robert B. Dockray (original)
John McAslan & Partners(renovation)
Website
roundhouse.org.uk

TheRoundhouseis aperforming artsand concert venue situated at theGrade II* listedformerrailway engine shedinChalk Farm,London,England. The building was erected in 1846–1847 by theLondon & North Western Railwayas aroundhouse,a circular building containing arailway turntable,but was used for that purpose for only about a decade. After being used as a warehouse for a number of years, the building fell into disuse just beforeWorld War II.It was first made a listed building in 1954.[2]

It reopened after 25 years, in 1964, as a performing arts venue, when the playwrightArnold Weskerestablished theCentre 42Theatre Company and adapted the building as a theatre.[3]The large circular structure has hosted various promotions, such as the launch of theundergroundpaperInternational Timesin 1966,[4]one of only two UK appearances byThe DoorswithJim Morrisonin 1968,[5]and theGreasy Truckers Partyin 1972.[6]

TheGreater London Councilceded control of the building toCamden Councilin 1983. By that time, Centre 42 had run out of funds and the building remained unused until a local businessman purchased the building in 1996 and performing arts shows returned. It was closed again in 2004 for a multi-millionpoundredevelopment. On 1 June 2006, the Argentine showFuerzabrutaopened at the new Roundhouse.[3]

Since 2006, the Roundhouse has hosted theBBC Electric Proms[7]and numerousiTunes Festivals,[8]as well as award ceremonies such as the BT Digital Music Awards[9]and the Vodafone Live Music Awards.[10]In 2009,Bob Dylanperformed a concert, andiTunespromoted a musiciTunes Festival,at the venue. In line with the continuing legacy ofavant-gardeproductions,NoFit State Circusperformed the showTabúduring which the audience were encouraged to move around the performance space.[11]

History

[edit]
The Great Circular Engine House, or the Luggage Engine House,c. 1850[12]

The Roundhouse was built as aturntableengine shed(orroundhouse) for theLondon & Birmingham Railway.Known as the Great Circular Engine House, or the Luggage Engine House,[13]it was built by Branson & Gwyther, using designs by architects Robert B. Dockray andRobert Stephenson.Construction started in 1846 and the building opened in 1847.[14]

Within ten years locomotives became too long for the building to accommodate, and the Roundhouse was used for various other purposes. The longest period of use (50 years, beginning in 1871) was as a bonded warehouse for gin distillers W & A Gilbey Ltd.[15][16]

In 1964 the premises were transferred to Centre 42, which prepared a scheme to convert the building into "a permanent cultural centre with a theatre, cinema, art gallery and workshops, committee rooms for local organisations, library, youth club and restaurant dance-hall". This was estimated to cost between £300,000 and £600,000 (£6.86 million–£13.7 million in 2023 worth[17]), and was supported by "well-known actors, playwrights, authors, musicians and others".[16]In 1966 the Roundhouse became an arts venue, after the freehold was taken up by the then newGreater London Council.The opening concert was the 15 October 1966All Night Rave,in whichSoft MachineandPink Floydappeared at the launch of theundergroundnewspaperInternational Times.[18]The first major concert took place on New Year's Eve 1966, when a night called Psychadelicamania was headlined byThe Who.During the next decade the building became a significant venue forUK Undergroundmusic eventsMiddle EarthandImplosion.Many of these were hosted and promoted byJeff Dexter.Other bands playing at the Roundhouse during this period includedGass,The Rolling Stones,[19]Jeff Beck,The Yardbirds,Zoot Money'sDantalian's Chariot,David Bowie,Jimi Hendrix,Pink Floyd,[19]Led Zeppelin,The Incredible String Band,Fleetwood Mac,Third World War,The DoorswithJefferson Airplane,theRamones,The ClashwithThe Jam,Elvis Costello,Elkie Brooks,Otis Redding,andMotörhead,who appeared at the Roundhouse on 20 July 1975.

While lying in a state of general abandonment in the1980s,the Roundhouse was used as the main location for thescience fictionhorror filmHardwarebyRichard Stanley.Setswere built inside the structure, although the lack of propersoundproofingmeant all of the dialogues had to bere-recorded.

The building was used again in 1996 to film the promotional video for theManic Street Preachers' single "A Design for Life"prior to the start of redevelopment. Promotional videos for the singles"No Matter What"byBoyzone(1998), "Handbags & Gladrags"byStereophonics(2001), and "Burn Burn"byLostprophets(2003) were also filmed there. A scene from the comedy filmSmashing Timeset in the revolving restaurant at the top of theGPO Towerwas filmed there in 1967. In July that year the Roundhouse hosted the "Dialectics of Liberation"[20]with (among others)R. D. Laing,Herbert MarcuseandAllen Ginsberg.

The Roundhouse has also been used for theatre, and has had two periods of theatrical glory, with musicals such asCatch My Soul(1969). Under administrator George Hoskins, the first phase also featured experimental theatre productions, such as theLiving Theatreproduction of1776and other plays directed byPeter Brook.The once controversial nude revueOh! Calcutta!opened in July 1970,[19]and started a run of nearly four thousand performances in London, and the anarchic "Evening of British Rubbish" with professorBruce LaceyandThe Albertshad one performance in 1967.

The Greater London Council passed the building to theCamden London Borough Councilin 1983, and attempts were made to establish it as a Black Arts Centre programming music, theatre and community projects; however, it was closed as a venue due to lack of funds.[21]During this time, on New Year's Eve 1991/92,Spiral Tribeheld a week-long party in the venue. During the party the generators cut out, so power had to be sourced from nearbyBritish Railtrain lines.[22][23]

Restoration

[edit]
Interior of Camden Roundhouse in 2013

The building lay largely empty until it was purchased for £6m in 1996 by the Norman Trust led by thephilanthropistTorquil Norman.In 1998 he set up theRoundhouse Trustand led its redevelopment, with a board of trustees which included musiciansBob GeldofandSuggs,and filmmakerTerry Gilliam.[24][25]

The venue opened for a two-year period to raise awareness and funds for a redevelopment scheme, with formerBattersea Arts CentredirectorPaul Blackmanas its director. Shows promoted at this time included theRoyal National Theatre'sOh, What a Lovely War!,dancerMichael Clark'scomeback performance, percussion extravaganzaStomp,Ken Campbell's24-hour-long showThe Warpand theArgentineDe La Guarda'sVilla Villa[19]which ran for a year, becoming the venue's longest running show, ending when the building was closed for redevelopment.

The website dance, commenting on the redevelopment project, said:

The redeveloped Roundhouse will house up to 3,300 people standing or up to 1,700 seated. It will provide a highly flexible and adaptable performance space that will give artists and audiences opportunities and experiences they cannot find elsewhere. It will accommodate a programme of work that reflects the excitement and diversity of twenty-first-century culture. It will include a wide range of the performing arts including, music, theatre, dance, circus and digital media.[26][dead link]

The renovated Roundhouse, designed by architectsJohn McAslan & Partnersin association with engineering companyBuro Happold,[19]reopened on 1 June 2006, promotingFuerzabruta.Since 1996 the renovations had cost £27m.[25]

On 20 December 2006,George Michaelheld a free concert for NHS nurses as a thank you for the care given to his mother Lesley, who died of cancer in 1997.[27]

Patti Smithperforming at Roundhouse, 17 May 2007

In 2008,Michael Boyd,artistic director of theRoyal Shakespeare Company,transferred his RSC Histories Cycle to the Roundhouse, rearranging the performing space to match the Courtyard Theatre inStratford upon Avon,where the cycle had first been staged.[28]

On 31 March 2009, the charitable circus groupNoFit Statebegan presentingTabu,[11]utilising the open space at the Roundhouse.[29]On 26 April 2009,Bob Dylanand his band performed at the Roundhouse as part of his 2009 UK tour,[30]and in July 2009 theiTunesMusic Festival (supported byApple Computer) was held at the venue.[31]

PJ Harvey performing at the Roundhouse, 2023

In January 2010, the Roundhouse introducedcontemporary classical musicto its events repertoire when it hosted theReverbfestival,[32]which included performances by theLondon Contemporary Orchestra,theOrchestra of the Age of Enlightenment,The Magnets,Nico Muhly,Sam Amidonand theBritten Sinfonia.[33]

For the September 2015 Apple Music Festival, Apple announced an environmental makeover gift for the venue: "making major upgrades to the lighting, plumbing, and HVAC systems; installing recycling and composting bins… offering reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones… to reduce the Roundhouse's annual carbon emissions by 60 tons, save 60,000 gallons of water a year, and divert more than 1,600 kilograms of waste from landfills".[34][35]

Roundhouse Trust

[edit]

Alongside its role as an arts venue, the Roundhouse is also a registered charity and runs a creative programme for 11–25s through the Roundhouse Trust.

From 2006 to 2012 the Trust taught over 13,000 11- to 25-year-olds in live music, circus, theatre and new media. Courses are held in the Roundhouse Studios, which include a music recording suite, film production rooms, TV and radio studios and rehearsal rooms, all located underneath the Main Space.[36]

Architecture

[edit]
The Roundhouse in 2007

The Roundhouse isGrade II* listed.It was declared a National Heritage Site in 2010, when a Transport Trust Heritage Plaque was presented byPrince Michael of Kent.[25]It is regarded as a notable example of mid-19th century railway architecture. The original building, 48 metres (157 ft) in diameter, is constructed in yellow brick and is distinctive for its unusual circular shape and pointed roof. The conical slate roof has a central smokelouvre(now glazed) and is supported by 24cast-ironDoric columns(arranged around the original locomotive spaces) and a framework of curved ribs. The interior has original flooring and parts of the turntable and fragments of early railway lines.[37]

The 2006 renovation was supported with conservation advice and funding fromEnglish Heritageand with grants from theHeritage Lottery Fundand theArts Council England.[38]The project added seven layers of soundproofing to the roof, reinstated theglazed roof-lights,and added the steel and glass New Wing, which curves around the north side of the main building, to house the box office, bar and café, an art gallery foyer and offices.[3][39]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Bane, M.,White Boy Singin' the Blues,London: Penguin, 1982,ISBN0-14-006045-6
  • Bob Brunning,Blues: The British Connection,London: Helter Skelter Publishing, 2002,ISBN1-900924-41-2– First edition 1986; Second edition 1995,Blues in Britain
  • Bob Brunning,TheFleetwood MacStory: Rumours and Lies,London: Omnibus Press, 1990 and 1998,ISBN0-7119-6907-8
  • Martin Celmins,Peter Green–Founder ofFleetwood Mac,London: Sanctuary, 1995, foreword byB. B. King,ISBN1-86074-233-5
  • Fancourt, L.,British Blues on Record (1957–1970),Retrack Books, 1989
  • Dick Heckstall-Smith,The Safest Place in the World: A personal history of British Rhythm and blues,Quartet Books Limited, 1989,ISBN0-7043-2696-5– Second Edition:Blowing The Blues – Fifty Years Playing The British Blues,Clear Books, 2004,ISBN1-904555-04-7
  • Christopher Hjort,Strange Brew:Eric Claptonand the British blues boom, 1965–1970,foreword byJohn Mayall,Jawbone, 2007,ISBN1-906002-00-2
  • Paul Myers,Long John Baldryand the Birth of the British Blues,VancouverGreyStone Books, 2007,ISBN1-55365-200-2
  • Harry ShapiroAlexis Korner:The Biography,London: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 1997, Discography by Mark Troster,ISBN0-7475-3163-3
  • Schwartz, R. F.,How Britain got the Blues: The transmission and reception of American blues style in the United Kingdom,Ashgate, 2007,ISBN0-7546-5580-6
  • Mike Vernon,The Blue Horizon Story 1965–1970 vol. 1,notes of the booklet of the box set (60 pages)

Discography

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"The Roundhouse – The Space".The Roundhouse.Retrieved5 November2023.
  2. ^"The Roundhouse".Historic England.Retrieved4 February2018.
  3. ^abc"The history of Roundhouse".roundhouse.org.uk.Retrieved29 July2013.
  4. ^"Archive 1966–1986".international-times.org.uk.Retrieved3 April2010.
  5. ^"The Doors: The Doors Are Open – The Roundhouse, London (1968)".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.2007. Archived fromthe originalon 14 November 2007.Retrieved3 April2010.
  6. ^"The Greasy Truckers Party (1972)".gsd.harvard.edu. Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2007.Retrieved3 April2010.
  7. ^"About Electric Proms".BBC.Retrieved3 April2010.
  8. ^"About the iTunes Festival".itv.Retrieved7 April2011.
  9. ^Oates, Joanne (30 August 2007)."GCap strong contender for BT Digital Awards".BBC.Retrieved3 April2010.
  10. ^"The 2006 Vodafone Live Music Awards".vodafonemusic.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2012.Retrieved3 April2010.
  11. ^abTabu my Fear and Yours (programme).No fit State (2009). Reg charity no: 1102850. pp. 1–10.
  12. ^George Measom,The official illustrated guide to the North-western railway,Publ. 1859 W.H. Smith,page 20
  13. ^Francis Whishaw,Railways of Great Britain and Ireland,p. 39,online
  14. ^"1847–1960: trains, wines and spirits".roundhouse.org.uk.Roundhouse Trust.Retrieved19 March2022.
  15. ^Rose, Steve (29 May 2006)."What goes around..."The Guardian.London.Retrieved4 January2010.
  16. ^abCooke, B. W. C., ed. (October 1964). "Notes and News: Camden's round-house".The Railway Magazine.Vol. 110, no. 762. Westminster: Tothill Press. pp. 800–1.
  17. ^United KingdomGross Domestic Product deflatorfigures follow theMeasuringWorth"consistent series" supplied inThomas, Ryland; Williamson, Samuel H. (2024)."What Was the U.K. GDP Then?".MeasuringWorth.Retrieved15 July2024.
  18. ^Brian Morton (21 October 2016)."The Roundhouse at 50: From gin joint to cultural tonic".BBC Arts.Retrieved10 May2017.
  19. ^abcdeJames, Anthony (1 May 2007)."A House of fun London's Roundhouse reopened and reborn"(PDF).theatreprojects. p. 45.Retrieved3 April2010.
  20. ^"1967".Dialectics of Liberation.30 July 1967.Retrieved2 July2017.
  21. ^"1980S – 2000: DERELICTION",Roundhouse website.
  22. ^""It was like something out of Mad Max." Spiral Tribe's Week Long Rave ".roundhouse.org.uk.
  23. ^"Free Party People – 31st December 1991-2nd January 1992 New Year's Eve: Spiral Tribe and Circus Normal at The Roundhouse, Camden, London".21 April 2022.
  24. ^Rose, Steve (29 May 2006)."What goes around..."The Guardian.London.Retrieved18 April2010.
  25. ^abcPigott, Nick,ed. (August 2010). "Headline News: Camden roundhouse becomes heritage site".The Railway Magazine.Vol. 156, no. 1312. London. p. 6.ISSN0033-8923.
  26. ^"The Roundhouse".londondance.Retrieved23 March2008.
  27. ^"I was there: George Michael concert for nurses".50.roundhouse.org.uk.Retrieved5 January2016.
  28. ^"RSC The Histories".rsc.org.uk.Retrieved29 July2013.
  29. ^"Theatregoers' Choice Awards. List of shows".whatsonstage.Retrieved3 April2010.
  30. ^Williams, Richard (28 April 2009)."Bob Dylan at the Roundhouse".The Guardian.London.Retrieved3 April2010.
  31. ^Karen (7 October 2009)."iTunes Festival 24 July 2009".wordpress.Retrieved3 April2010.
  32. ^Silverman, Laura (4 March 2010)."How to sell classical music to the masses".The Times.London.Retrieved17 April2010.
  33. ^"Reverb festival".Time Out.London. January 2010.Retrieved17 April2010.
  34. ^"Apple Music Festival".Apple Music Festival.Retrieved2 July2017.
  35. ^"Apple is giving London's Roundhouse a big makeover for the Apple Music Festival".Business Insider.22 September 2015.Retrieved2 July2017.
  36. ^[1]Archived30 November 2010 at theWayback Machine
  37. ^Historic England."The Roundhouse (1258103)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 December2014.
  38. ^Cannon, Jon (2006).Shared Interest.English Heritage. pp. 10, 50.Retrieved18 April2010.
  39. ^"The Roundhouse".John McAslan & Partners.Retrieved17 April2010.
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