Jacksons Lane

Jacksons Lane
Address	269a Archway Road, London
City	Haringey, London
Country	United Kingdom
Coordinates	51.57659°N 0.14528°W / 51.57659; -0.14528
Owned by	Jacksons Lane Ltd
Capacity	160 theatre (250 with standing) plus 5 multi-purpose spaces
Type	Arts Centre
Opened	1976
Website
http://www.jacksonslane.org.uk/

Jacksons Lane is a pioneering multi-arts venue in Highgate, North London.

Theatre and performance

Jacksons Lane is a theatre, a centre for participation, and a space for new circus theatre companies and artists to create and perform. Housed in a striking red-brick gothic church conversion, the building is home to a 160 capacity theatre, a large scale dance and rehearsal studio, a cafe-bar and four other multi-purpose spaces.

The venue has a rich history of innovative work including a wealth of experimental visual theatre companies, as well as a strong history in contemporary dance and circus. Established names and companies such as Complicite, The Mighty Boosh, Shared Experience, Stephen Merchant, Out of Joint and Frantic Assembly have all performed or developed work at Jacksons Lane, and Matt Lucas and David Walliams (Little Britain) performed their first ever show as a duo at Jacksons Lane. Lately it has forged a strong identity for producing and promoting contemporary circus work and supports some 20 companies a year. Five Jacksons Lane-supported companies were shortlisted for the pioneering Jeune Talents Cirques Europe in 2010, and was hailed as 'The Innovator' and 'a breeding ground for fast-rising talent' By Time Out London magazine.

Companies supported by Jacksons Lane include Mimbre, Sugar Beast Circus, Genius Sweatshop, German Wheel specialists Acrojou, Shunt founder Layla Rosa, Burlesque performer Roxy Velvet, Green Eyed Zero, aerialist Ilona Jantti and pioneering tight-wire performer Alana Jones.

Partners include The Roundhouse, Circus Space, Crying Out Loud, The Place and Sadlers Wells.

Jacksons Lane has six spaces including its main theatre, as well as one of the largest and most striking dance and rehearsal spaces in the UK which combines contemporary cutting edge design with historical architecture. The theatre itself won a RIBA Community Enterprise award for its design by Tim Ronalds Architects: '‘Socially, aesthetically and technically the design offers inspirational lessons" (The Architects’ Journal)

Participation and education

Jacksons Lane hosts around 50 arts-based courses and training opportunities, ranging from circus to theatre training, dance and artist development.

Funding

Jacksons Lane is funded by Haringey Council, Arts Council England and Big Lottery.

History

Highgate or Jackson's Lane Wesleyan Methodist church was opened in 1905, on the current site at the corner of Archway Road and Jacksons Lane. The building was of red brick with stone dressings, designed in an early Gothic style included a Sunday school and was designed by W. H. Boney of Highgate. The church seated 650 and the schoolroom 400. Jackson's Lane was well known during the 1960s for its community work. The church was closed in 1976 and soon after was reopened to begin its new incarnation as an arts centre.

External links

• Official Site