Built in 1882 as a drill hall for the Bloomsbury Rifles, The Drill Hall is remembered and visited by older ex-soldiers from all over London.
In the early 1900s it was in this building that Diaghilev's famous Ballet Russes rehearsed with Nijinsky; in the war years Ralph Reader rehearsed and performed many of the Gang Shows, and in the late 1960s the Tate's McAlpine Exhibition was housed here.
In 1984 the current management company, Central London Arts Limited, took over the running of The Drill Hall and established the theatre and programme of work that now plays a key role in London's cultural life.
Performance work that is made and produced at The Drill Hall has established a national and international reputation for championing the work of new artists, performers and theatre practitioners.
In particular, The Drill Hall has established itself as a key venue and producer of work that is led and illuminated by a gay, lesbian and queer aesthetic. We will continue to develop this work with an appetite for artistic boldness and daring.
The Drill Hall has always been at the heart of movements of cultural, social and political change. For example, it initiated, hosted and was central to the Arts Lobby against Section 28, which went on to become the successful and respected LGBT campaigning organisation, Stonewall.
This role continues with The Drill Hall's crucial outreach work amongst young LGBT people and its role as home to Schools OUT and LGBT History Month.
Through its education work, The Drill Hall has produced an exceptional programme for schools that addresses homophobia and its consequences. This has included Grace Barnes's adaptation of Jackie Kay's Trumpet, for which Cathy Tyson won Best Actress in a Visiting Production at the Manchester Evening News Awards in 2006, and FIT by Rikki Beadle-Blair.
The Drill Hall has continually addressed the wider cultural landscape whilst creating a unique home for this work and anyone or any new collaboration that does not easily fit elsewhere. This includes the following artists and theatre companies:
- Bryony Lavery
- Nona Shepphard
- Michelle Shocked
- Robyn Archer
- Nigel Charnock
- Rose English
- Neil Bartlett
- Split Britches
- Gay Sweatshop
- Bloolips
- The Ridiculous Theatrical Company
- The Topp Twins
- Simon Fanshawe
- The Guest Stars
- Siren Theatre Co
- Rhona Cameron
- Lea Delaria
- Lypsinka
- Clyde Unity Theatre
- Cunning Stunts
- Siren Theatre Co
- Jackie Kay
- Theatre of Black Women
- Armistead Maupin
- Nancy Diuguid
- Noel Greig
- Dillie Keane
- Debbie Isitt
- Dramatrix Productions
- Horse
- Starving Artists
- Amy Roadstone Productions
- Out & Proud
- Jackie Clune
- Stacey Makishi
- Lorna Gee
- Claire Dowie
- Wilde Mischung
- The Five Lesbian Brothers
- Felix Bergsson
- Tim Miller
- and many, many more
Additionally, The Drill Hall has been at the forefront of creating space for music theatre and chamber opera. This includes Music Theatre London, Gloria, Opera Factory, The Steam Industry and Take Note.
Notably it housed the first Lift festival in 1983.
