A theatre that began in a disused warehouse with materials salvaged from the Olympic games has secured £700,000 to build a new home.
The Yard Theatre in Tower Hamlets will receive funding for a new theatre building in Hackney Wick through a grant from Arts Council England, as part of a £24.2 million capital investment programme.
The development includes creating an auditorium with 200 cushioned seats, as well as a workshop, dressing rooms, and a cafe/bar.
The project will see a major refurbishment and extension of the presently leased building site, transforming it into a modern theatre designed by Takero Shimazaki Architects.
This will double the theatre's capacity and establish it as a production hub and a starting point for national tours and London transfers.
The funds will go towards buying equipment and improving access, reduce environmental footprint, and bring youth and community activities under one roof for the first time.
The Yard Theatre's artistic director Jay Miller said: "For 13 years, the entire Yard Theatre team has poured its heart and soul into the vision of a permanent, state-of-the-art space.
"Today, thanks to the tireless efforts of everyone involved and the generous support of Arts Council England and other funders, that vision gets closer.
"This new space in Hackney Wick marks a monumental step forward for The Yard Theatre."
The theatre will also introduce sustainable features, such as a naturally ventilated auditorium, recycling waste-based bricks, and implementing solar energy.
Additionally, accessible features will be a focus of the design, featuring level flooring, a wheelchair-accessible technical box, and a lighting rig.
The theatre has also announced the appointment of Simon Tate as chair of the organisation's trustee board.
Mr Tate, founder and managing director of Wetherby, will lead the organisation through this extensive project.
He said: "I am honoured and excited to have been asked to chair the trustee board to support and guide The Yard at this pivotal moment.
"Together we will deliver a theatre fit to host all the wonderful work that The Yard does - creating productions that redefine what theatre can be."
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