Broadcasting House and the Radio Theatre in partic...

Broadcasting House and the Radio Theatre in particular, is one of my favourite places. If you are lucky enough to get tickets for a radio show to be recorded there you will get to see an interesting 1930s theatre. It's a small space, seating around 250 persons. The bulk of the seating is in the stalls with an overflow area in the balcony. There's no proscenium arch just raked seating opposite a slightly raised stage area. This is a fully digital radio recording studio and the sounds played back there are stunning. However, the most interesting visual feature is the wall decoration. The two main walls are divided into sections with plaster panels at the base. I have a love hate relationship with these panels. On one hand they are well executed and very much of their period. On the other I find them too like the idealised images of fit youth from Nazi Germany. One final thing, if you are tall then expect to find the balcony seating uncomfortable. The only way to avoid getting put up there is to arrive very early, be at the front of the queue and take something to read while you wait in the Media Cafe (which is very good).