One of London’s busiest traffic islands is set for a dramatic encore. Hartshorn-Hook Productions has submitted plans to transform the center of the Marble Arch roundabout into a temporary, 500-seat theatre, designed by Reed Watts Architects.
Intended as a temporary home for the historic Arts Theatre during its two-year refurbishment, the venue would host the hit musical "The Choir of Man" as its headline act. The proposal is currently before Westminster City Council, with approval expected at a committee meeting on December 9, despite concerns from Historic England that it may detract from the Grade I-listed arch.
The Key Details:
The Venue: A 10-meter-tall rectangular structure featuring a foyer, central bar, and a 500-seat auditorium.
Eco-Design: The building will be constructed from a modular aluminium frame wrapped in green recycled fabric strips, sitting on a base of reclaimed timber boards.
Westminster City Council is expected to approve the plan when its planning committee meets on Tuesday, December 9
Backstage Secrets: Shipping containers will be cleverly converted into dressing rooms, toilets, and offices at the rear of the site.
Timeline: If approved, the theatre will operate from January 26, 2026, to March 2028, with opening hours proposed from 9am to midnight daily.
The "Mound" Legacy: The site is the same location that hosted the infamous Marble Arch Mound in 2021, a context that has made council officials particularly attentive to the design quality of this new proposal.