Tricycle Cinema

It also represents the culmination of the architect’s 20-year association with the theatre, creating a design that both reflect the history of the organization and its role in the contemporary world. The Tricycle theatre has become a leading off-West End venue, as well as a community arts centre for the area. It hosts Saturday shows for children and takes part in a youth theatre programme in local community schools.

The Tricycle Theatre began life in 1980 in a converted Foresters’ Hall. However, the space was almost completely destroyed in 1987 by a fire. While a potential tragedy at the time, what sprung form the ashes of the Tricycle is much more than the original theatre ever seen. The new Tricycle complex includes a 300-seat cinema, a 225-seat theatre, a rehearsal studio, a visual arts studio, a smaller theatre/workshop space and art gallery, coffee and bar.

The visual impact of the building was important as the structure occupies a site adjacent to the original theatre building with a frontage onto a side street. For the first time this gives the theatre a significant street presence, previously not possible on the original backlands site. The design aimed at articulate three main elements: the double height entrance foyer, the cinema auditorium, and the rehearsal studio at first floor level.

The design of the building had to be sympathetic to its surroundings. The restrictions on material specification were that they all should be suitable for the purpose for which they were intended and complement the other components.

Tim Foster says: “We decided that pre-finished steel cladding was the most appropriate option as it reflected the modern lightweight character of the upper part of the building. Using Silver as a colour for the walls related the cladding panels to the glazing and the exposed structure elements.”