What is it?
For a long time, Islington’s hallowed Sadler’s Wells was London’s only dedicated major dance theatre, but that changed this year with the launch of its 550-seat sister venue Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford. The new venue is a boon not only to dance lovers but also to London: considering the number of major theatres the city has, modern dance struggles to get much of a foothold in this city, with the big ballet companies by far the most visible aspect of the genre. A whole second Sadler’s is a serious cultural statement, more or less doubling the amount of interesting contemporary dance work appearing on London stages.
The auditorium here is relatively plain, made to ensure all focus is on the dancers. Almost all of the seating is fully retracable and for its debut show ‘Our Mighty Groove’, the seats were taken away halfway through to put the audience on level with performers and get them dancing too.
Why go?
For its diverse programme of dance performances by troupes from all over the globe, from ballet to flamenco and hip-hop to kathak.
Don’t miss
The Dance Floor at Sadler’s Wells East offers free workshops and events for anyone interested in dance and performance. Upcoming stuff includes a puppet-making workshop and a ‘get into dance’ festival, as well as regular events like lunchtime Bollywood classes and Afro-Cuban workshops every Wednesday.
When to visit
Sadler’s Wells East is open from 9.30am-3.30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9.30am to 10pm from Thursday to Saturday and midday to 6pm on Sundays. The building is also open 90 minutes prior to any performances outside of those times.
Time Out tip
Don’t bother traipsing the nearby Westfield for somewhere to eat pre-show. The food at Sadler’s Wells East’s cafe is delicious enough to stand alone. We’re talking foccacia toasties stuffed with jackfruit and blue cheese, melt-in-the-mouth lamb flatbreads and full-on Sunday roasts.
RECOMMENDED: Sadler’s Wells East has announced details of its opening season