The Other Place

The Other Place started life as a converted a tin hut in the Royal Shakespeare Company's car park, a short walk away from the Memorial Theatre. Converted in 1974, its rugged informality generated a special excitement and provided a launchpad for new writers and directors. In 1991 this was replaced by a new theatre building with a nearly square (originally intended to be hexagonal) auditorium, now facing the river and framed by two existing buildings: a half-timbered house, already in use as a costume store, and a disused eighteenth century crop barn. With the facade of the theatre, which has an outline slightly reminiscent of a nonconformist chapel, the buildings form a courtyard. The barn has been converted into a spacious bar, with a green room above.

Through the main entrance, stairs led up to the balcony at left and right, and three exits allowed for egress depending upon seating arrangements; the side exits led into two broad corridors flanking the theatre, and providing access to offices. Like its predecessor, it had a T-shaped trap system let into the floor, and above balcony level were two wide meshed walkways giving access to the lighting positions. The auditorium walls were brick, and the stairs to the balcony wood; the exposed metal was painted black. Seating on three-sides accommodated 220, or 270 on four sides with the addition of comfortable upholstered benches.

Behind the main theatre were two rehearsal rooms - the Michel St Denis Studio and the Buzz Goodbody Studio; the former is the size of The Swan.

In 1995 permission was granted to extend the facade to provide more space, with office accommodation.

In 2005, The Other Place closed, as the site would be required for the building of the Courtyard Theatre (q.v.) next door. The Other Place itself was temporarily transformed to provide foyer space, cloakroom, bars, dressing rooms and rehearsal space for the Courtyard. The Courtyard was due to be a temporary theatre providing an auditorium suitable for RSC productions while the Royal Shakespeare Theatre underwent substantial works. These works completed in 2011, and the success of the Courtyard continued its use through the summer of 2012 for the Complete Works Festival.

The Other Place and the Courtyard Theatre will now be developed to create a new studio theatre, rehearsal space and costume store.