Sense and Sensibility- The Roundhouse in London - Marcus Davey

Beginning life in 1846 as a steam-engine repair shed, The Roundhouse is destined to be a legendary venue. A clash broke out between the local worker and the Irish brick workers marking the first event of this circular building. The regular London police were called to the scene but eventually chose to flee and let the workers solve the problems among themselves. The Roundhouse abounds with stories since then.

The Roundhouse was used for a multitude of purposes. Until the 60s and the 70s of the last century, with the support of the Union, it turned into a bold and exciting performing arts venue, witnessing the birth of many super stars. The punk, new wave and alternative theater all sprouted here, inspiring generations of musicians, artists and the public. In the 80s, the building was running out of funds and was closed down due to the economic downturn. The building lay empty until it was purchased by Sir Norman in 1998 and was renovated to its modern 21st century façade with the cost of £30 million in 2006.

The Roundhouse has been a focal point of social and artistic development ever since the 60s. Marcus Davey, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of The Roundhouse, opined that mainstream arts venues tend to manage art as commodities or branding exercises but fail to realize life, spirituality and passion in arts. Unlike the Royal Opera House or Southbank Centre that were constructed with a specific purpose, The Roundhouse emphasizes the exchange of ideas through various artistic media to express ideas and explore the future.

Davey who has a background in music believed that alternative space in the periphery can break free from the mainstream, nurturing the development of mavericks and avant-garde productions. Whoever stands out will be leading a new trend and shaping tomorrow’s mainstream. This type of innovation is precisely what mainstream society needs. The then unknown band Pink Floyd appeared at the launch of the performing venue in The Roundhouse in October 1966, while Paul McCartney was dancing away with Marianne Faithful below the stage. What The Roundhouse treasures is talent.

Young people are at the heart of Sir Norman and thus The Roundhouse offers a year-round schedule of creative projects for 11–25 year olds. In addition to commissioning excellent productions and inviting top class performers, it involves youngsters in both front and back stages and encourages them to produce multi-media projects. 40% of the vacancies are given to young people who were marginalized or disadvantaged by society. They may not be in school, have behavior problems or come from troublesome family backgrounds. Davis hoped that through the cooperation with other professional artists and people from other sectors, not only can they build up trust and understanding, but also enjoy the pleasure in creation and eventually ignite their hopes towards life.

In order to keep in line with the free and tolerant spirit of an alternative venue, The Roundhouse added various elements in the renovation process, such as the installation of glass walls in an attempt to transform the usually alienated culture venue into a transparent space. The original circular design embodied the sense of democracy as there were no balconies to divide people into different classes. All seats could be moved and so it brought the audience closer to the performers. Everyone can experience the real live atmosphere without feeling excluded or neglected.

An arts building is only an empty shell without the cheers from the audience. Davis invited you to visit in order to feel the enthusiasm of the volunteers. They are 200 young people from all walks of life and are the ambassadors of The Roundhouse. These youngsters also form an advisory panel to give advice about the programs, and two of the representatives even sit on the board and participate in management. Whether they can create the next wave of artistic movement is yet to be seen, but one thing is for certain, that they will be the most vigorous defenders of alternative innovative arts like The Roundhouse.