An outdoor performance space.
A fully-stocked open-air bar.
A creative hub in the heart of Dalston.
Everything you love about Arcola – now outside.
Arcola Outside opened last year as our new outdoor performance space and bar in the heart of Dalston, designed by multi-award-winning stage designer Jon Bausor (London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony, Bat Out of Hell: The Musical, The Grinning Man), and built by a team of freelance theatre and live events technicians.
Our space is 60 metres from the theatre’s main building on Ashwin Street, reimagining Arcola’s performance spaces and bar, bringing them together under a giant roof. Arcola Outside benefits from being an outdoor space, making it a safer place to enjoy live performance. It’s great to be back.
This summer, Arcola Outside will see performances from SLAminutes does Men’s Mental Health.
Significantly reduced Covid risk
The health and safety of our audiences, artists and staff is an absolute priority for us. By going outside, we are significantly reducing the risk of airborne transmission of the virus. Read what we’re doing to keep you safe.
An artistic hub
We are likely to be living with Covid-19 for some time, and it’s so important that we find new and safer ways of working. Arcola Outside enables us to welcome audiences and to create new opportunities for freelance artists and workers. It will be a flexible, multi-purpose space, able to host live performances, screenings, installations and more.
Year-round
Arcola Outside is covered by a giant roof structure, offering protection from the weather whilst maintaining excellent airflow.
Open to all
In the heart of Dalston, for everyone in our community. Arcola Outside allows groups to meet outside, as well as providing single bookers with the opportunity to book any seat in the auditorium.
Sustainable
Arcola Outside continues our longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability, including significant use of reclaimed and recycled materials and creating a green environment.
Name a Bench
As part of the design plans, we’ve created seating in our new venue for groups to meet and watch shows and enjoy drinks and the full airflow benefits of an outdoor environment. We’re inviting friends of Arcola to name a bench to help to support Arcola Outside.
For £500 (the cost of a bench), you will get:
• A personalised plaque on a bench for at least two years
• Named acknowledgement in our Arcola Outside programmes for 2021
• Named acknowledgment on the Arcola website
Terms and conditions apply.
Thank you to everyone who has made Arcola Outside happen
Building Arcola Outside would not have been possible without your generous donations. Thank you to:
David Thompson, Paul Vaight, Sally Wardle and Colin Wilkin.
Game Changers
Graham and Christine Benson
Roger Bradburn
Andrew Cripps
Robert Fowler
Trailblazers
Catrin Evans
Graham Ingham
Katrin Mauerich
Chris Rencki
Mark Watts
Name a Bench sponsors
Tessa Bell-Briggs
Graham and Christine Benson
Laurence Elks
Robert Fowler
Ros Haigh
Chloe Leila
Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Tom Mautner
Douglas B. McArthur
Lynne McKenzie
Seth Petherick
Lisa Rodwell
Peter Snell
Sue Taylor
David Thompson
Paul Vaight
And thank you to Tim Burt, Ann Cawley, Claudia Cotton, John and Hilary Everett, Dilwyn Griffiths, Ros Haigh, E Haines, Stuart Honey, Graham Ingram, Melanie Johnson, Sandra Johnson, Vivien Jones, Jack Keenan, Rose Leigh, Sarah Morrison, Lucinda Platt, Richard Salter, Jane Shallice, Peter Snell, Robert Stewart, Sally Wardle and Colin Wilkin.