Cockpit Theatre (Marylebone) in the context of City of Westminster College

⭐ Core Definition: Cockpit Theatre (Marylebone)

The Cockpit is a fringe theatre in Marylebone, London.

Designed by Edward Mendelsohn and built in 1969–70 by the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) as the Gateforth Youth Arts Centre, it is London's first purpose-built Theatre in the round since the Great Fire of London. When ILEA was disbanded in 1990, ownership of the Cockpit was transferred to the London Borough of Westminster, who made it part of the newly renamed City of Westminster College. The Cockpit is the only purpose-built, free standing, commercially operating theatre training venue in the capital.

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👉 Cockpit Theatre (Marylebone) in the context of City of Westminster College

City of Westminster College is a further education college in the City of Westminster, Greater London, England, founded originally as Paddington Technical Institute in 1904 and gaining its current name in 1990. The college has two centres in central London, located in Paddington and Maida Vale. It also includes the Cockpit Theatre, a fully operational studio theatre used for training and performances, and a range of outreach centres. Since 2017, it is legally merged with the College of North West London (CNWL) although remains publicly distinct; together the United Colleges Group has more than 9,000 enrolled students as of 2019, most in young or adult study programmes and some in apprenticeships.

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⭐ Core Definition: Cockpit Theatre (Marylebone)
👉 Cockpit Theatre (Marylebone) in the context of City of Westminster College
Cockpit Theatre (Marylebone) in the context of Theatre in the round

Cockpit Theatre (Marylebone) in the context of Theatre in the round

Theatre-in-the-round, also known as arena theatre or central staging, is a theatrical stage configuration in which the audience surrounds the performance area on all sides.

Historically rooted in ancient Greece and Rome performance practices, the format was reintroduced and popularized in the mid-20th century through pioneering venues like the Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theatre in Seattle, Washington. It opened on May 19, 1940, with a production of Spring Dance, a comedy by playwright Philip Barry. The 160-seat theatre is located on the campus of the University of Washington and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

View the full Wikipedia page for Theatre in the round

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