ABOUT THE YARD
In 2011 a group of volunteers, led by Jay Miller, converted a disused warehouse in Hackney Wick into a theatre, bar and kitchen. We called it The Yard. Due to be here for 3 months, we are still here 8 years later and, as recognition of our success, in 2018 The Yard joined the Arts Council’s National Portfolio.
The Yard provides a safe space for artists to grow new ideas, and for audiences to access outstanding new work. A multi-award winning theatre and described as “the most important theatre in east London” (Time Out), The Yard is committed to:
- Discovering and developing new artists.
- Exposing stories from the edges of society.
- Interrogating the process of writing for performance.
In an area buzzing with artists and potential, The Yard has rapidly established itself as a theatrical necessity, with a reputation for upending theatrical tradition and, injecting creativity and fearlessness into wider contemporary culture. We've supported artists to produce ambitious new work that communicates contemporary, unheard stories and ideas in new, innovative theatrical forms. Producing bold, politically-charged, unapologetically live new work, our success has led to two transfers to the National Theatre, international tours and partnerships with theatres including the Royal Court and Young Vic. Through our ability to identify artists and inspire new work, The Yard has become a leader in the future of theatre.
“It's a beacon of exciting, progressive new work in theatre-poor east London and a real model for what a theatre can and should be in the twenty-first century” Time Out
The Yard is one of London’s most exciting late-night venues. We’re fully independent and aim to provide a platform for some of London’s most exciting collectives, crews, DJs, performers and artists with a real focus on events organised by and for those who find themselves under-represented in London’s cultural landscape. We host over 100 late-night events each year which fill our bar space with people dancing until the early hours.
“Hackney Wick’s current go-to spot” Time Out
We’re proud to currently collaborate and host a diverse range of promoters, parties and organisations, including Inferno, Beauty & The Beat, Knickerbocker, Pride of Arabia, Brainchild, inner u, BBC AZN Network and more. Alongside our late-night programme, we also host a range of events and hires, including film festivals, contemporary dance, comedy shows and concerts.
Bordering Tower Hamlets and Hackney, and next to the Olympic Park, The Yard is in a rapidly changing part of the UK. We are a key part of the fabric of Hackney Wick, a recognised and respected grassroots venue that has grown with the community since 2011. Our local programme focuses on ensuring young people have access to the arts, and using our spaces to bring local residents together. We aim to deliver a civic service as a theatre, build community cohesion and ensure The Yard is representative of our diverse locale.
We run a community centre, Hub67, from which we deliver innovative, creative activity for local residents, with a focus on children and young people. Each week we welcome over 80 local people through the doors of Hub67 to take part in high-quality, meaningful activity. We are shortly set to open a second community space in East Village. This space will serve the local residents of E20, providing a hireable venue for events and meetings, a space for participatory activity, workshops and classes, and a place for the community to come together.