The Other Place was our original studio theatre, the starting point for some of our landmark productions over the last 40 years.
It began life as a tin shed rehearsal room and in 1974, following a series of experimental theatre projects such as Actors Commando and Theatregoround, it was converted into a studio space for adventurous and experimental work by contemporary writers. The Other Place was the brainchild of Buzz Goodbody, the pioneering visionary at the helm of its artistic direction in its early days, who made it the most productive tin shed in theatre history.
The Other Place was fuelled by Buzz’s artistic vision – a reaction to the political, social and aesthetic changes triggered by the Second World War. Inspired by the revolutionary spirit of the alternative theatre movements occurring throughout Britain, Buzz created an unconventional auditorium, which aimed to create a sense of community and intimacy between actors and audience.
The Other Place was closed in 1989 for two years of rebuilding, and reopened its doors in 1991 with a permanent brick building. This building later closed in 2005 to be adapted as a foyer to The Courtyard Theatre which allowed us to continue performances during the transformation of the Royal Shakespeare and Swan theatres from 2006 - 2010. We kept the shell of The Courtyard Theatre's auditorium and used it to create a new The Other Place.
Find out more about Buzz and the history of The Other Place with our Engine Room blog series.