Arcola Theatre

Arcola Theatre is a Dalston institution — an award-winning theatre in a converted paint factory on Ashwin Street that has built a reputation for bold contemporary work and community engagement since its founding. The building houses five hireable spaces, from a 200-capacity main auditorium with full theatrical infrastructure to intimate rehearsal rooms, and the industrial origins give even the most corporate booking a grain of East London character.

Studio 1

The main auditorium holds up to 200 in a traverse stage configuration. Original features from the paint factory past — raw textures, industrial scale — give the room a visual identity that film crews, brand launches, and corporate events seek out. Full professional lighting and sound infrastructure is installed, making it ready for presentations, performances, and filmed events without the need to bring in external production.

Studio 2

The second performance space holds up to 100 with a thrust stage backed by original exposed brickwork. It's a more intimate alternative to Studio 1 — suited to smaller performances, screenings, talks, and panel events where the raw brick backdrop adds atmosphere without any dressing.

Rehearsal Rooms and the Arcola Bar

Three rehearsal rooms offer flexible daytime and evening hire. The largest (15m x 7m) takes 100 standing or 45 seated; the mid-size (11m x 7.3m) holds 80 standing or 45 seated; the smallest (4.9m x 9.3m) suits groups up to 40 standing or 25 seated. All three are bright with natural light and work for workshops, meetings, casting sessions, and corporate away-days. A kitchenette is accessible on the rehearsal floor. The Arcola Bar on the ground level is open to the public and available as part of larger event bookings.

Access and Practicalities

Full wheelchair accessibility via lift throughout the building, with disabled toilets on each floor and dressing rooms with showers for performers and crew. Air conditioning across all spaces. Dalston Junction and Dalston Kingsland Overground stations are both nearby, placing the venue within easy reach of central London. Arcola's sustainability commitment — it runs an energy subsidiary, Arcola Energy — gives environmentally conscious organisers a venue that aligns with corporate responsibility programmes.