Platform Theatre, Central Saint Martins – Theatre Consultancy, Design and Project Management

The Platform Theatre at Central Saint Martins is one of London’s most innovative and flexible performance spaces, forming a key part of the King’s Cross Central regeneration project. Located within the University of the Arts London’s Central Saint Martins campus, the theatre sits at the heart of a new cultural quarter created as part of the largest urban redevelopment project undertaken in London for over 150 years.

Drama by Design was appointed as Theatre Consultant, Theatre Designer and Project Manager for the complete theatre fit-out. Working closely with the University, Overbury plc and the wider project team, we transformed a concrete shell into a fully equipped, professional-standard performance venue. Our involvement extended across every aspect of the theatre design, from auditorium planning and audience circulation through to stage engineering, theatre technology, technical infrastructure and seating design.

The completed building comprises a 300-seat adaptable theatre together with front-of-house facilities, dressing rooms, production offices and workshops arranged over four floors. The brief required a highly flexible performance space capable of supporting a wide range of teaching, rehearsal and public performance activities whilst providing students with access to professional theatre facilities.

As theatre consultants, Drama by Design developed the complete auditorium design, creating a flexible configuration that allows the theatre to be adapted to suit different performance styles. The design includes innovative side balconies that can function either as audience seating or performance areas, enabling directors and designers to reconfigure the relationship between performers and audience to suit the needs of individual productions.

Our scope included the design and specification of all theatre systems and infrastructure throughout the building. This encompassed stage engineering, stage lighting systems, performance sound systems, communications networks, production infrastructure, control systems and specialist theatre equipment. We also designed the front-of-house and stage technical gantries, providing safe and efficient access for lighting, sound and production personnel while maximising flexibility within the performance space.

A major element of the project was the design of the theatre’s flying system. Drama by Design designed and specified a 40-line double-purchase counterweight flying installation, providing professional scenery handling capabilities comparable to those found in leading producing theatres. The stage itself was designed with integrated understage storage, a stage crossover and an orchestra pit featuring a bespoke infill system, allowing the performance area to be reconfigured quickly to accommodate a wide variety of productions.

The seating system was entirely custom designed by Drama by Design to support the theatre’s flexible operating model. Every seat within the auditorium can be removed, enabling any part of the space to become a performance area. The balcony seating was engineered with rotating seat units and adaptable safety barriers, allowing audience sightlines to be redirected towards different stage locations and supporting a broad range of staging configurations.

In addition to designing the theatre, Drama by Design produced the detailed specifications for all specialist works, managed the tender process and acted as project manager throughout the installation phase. Working closely with contractors and stakeholders on site, we oversaw the delivery of the project from concept through to completion, ensuring the finished venue achieved the highest standards of functionality, safety and performance.

Today, the Platform Theatre stands as a benchmark for flexible theatre design within higher education. The project demonstrates Drama by Design’s expertise in theatre consultancy, theatre planning, auditorium design, stage engineering, theatre technology design and project management, delivering a world-class performance space that supports creativity, learning and professional production at the heart of one of London’s most significant cultural developments.