Arcola Theatre Reviews

Regularly visit to see new/experimental theatre. Has a nice vibe going on and drinks aren't outlandishly expensive given the area.

Really cozy theater. I watched "Sitting" which I also found interesting.

Great venue for fringe theatre . Who'd of thought in trendy Dalston. Affordable tickets for quality production.

I love this theatre. Every thing I have seen here is purely brilliant.

I have seen many wonderful and totally enjoyable shows in Studio 1 but have never been seated within 5 seats of the tech booth before tonight and have now discovered how annoying it is: headphone volume set so high you can hear every word the stage manager says and of course the verbal response of the tech, clicks when switches are changed, constant loud computer fan noise, occasional loud shuffling of papers and the booth light shines brightly across all the seats at that end of Row H and presumably Row G and possibly even below that. So my recommendation to the punter is to book seats well away from the tech booth and to the venue to enclose the booth like most theatres do.

The Emily Dickinson performance was a bit strange. But the front of house staff are lovely

Lovely, cosy independent theatre. I went to watch the matinee of Opera Up Close s Eugene Onegin so sadly the bar everyone raves about was closed but still a great experience. It was great being in the middle of the action. As there is no stage it was very interactive. Friendly staff and interesting programming. Will definitely visit again.

Watched fishermen and these guys just blew me away with the way they delivered this play... Begining with reminiscen about their childhood...

My favourite theatre in London. What you get here is very finely curated shows that never disappoint the slightly more alternative taste audiences. Fantastic space and location, great bar - the bar would do with better non alcoholic beverages choice though.

Wonderful play us we they them. Great atmosphere and what's more really nice bar

Love the place! Small halls give nice intimate atmosphere as if they were playing just for you. Interesting selection of plays!

A good local off West end theatre plus the bar is a good hangout

Been here a few times now, very impressed by the quality of the productions.

Rating a theatre, of course, heavily influenced by the production seen. I saw "The Daughter-in-law" by D. H. Lawrence. A very powerful play well performed in Nottingham dialect of 1912, including many phrases of such interest and fun that I bought the script. The Arcola puts on many fringe productions of interest and earns good reviews: keep an eye on future productions.
Theatre was the Reeves paint factory from 1866, with addition 1913. Look outside and admire the architecture of this and neighboring buildings.

One of the coolest theatres in London. Every production is affordable, moving and memorable. If you're there at the weekend the bar hosts excellent quirky ragtime bands. People get up and dance (or not). Free access if you arrive before 8pm or so. It's a great vibe/ community feel a super antidote to dj/ "electronic" music venues.

The play "These Streets are made of blood" is very good!

We have been coming here for years and shows are always exciting and inspiring.

The bar is cosy and a great place to people watch. Recommend popping in even if you are not seeing a show.

Popped in for a beer before meeting a friend as its close to the station. Seems nice and the staff where friendly. Could benefit from a larger selection of drinks but it served a purpose.

Small, quirky East End theatre. Makes you really engage with the show. Nice bar too.

Lovely venue, well sign posted and puts on some fantastic shows, bar staff are super sweet as well! Bathrooms are partially gendered, but signposted inclusively. Door staff are practical and kind, reasonable number of places to sit before / at the interval, and free water that's easy to find. Not much more I could ask for!

Nice cosy place. Watched Radio in studio 2. Loved the show loved the venue!

Fantastic, pinched a star for lack of air conditioning.

Easy to find...nice and cosy, has it's own bar.
Only down fall is you can't leave the play to go toilet (So you better go before)

A great space with efficient service. Saw a production of Great Apes by Will Self - bloody brilliant.

fantastic venue for original theatre work plus music and comedy.

Small intimate theatre but the area around it is a bit rough, would not want to walk around there at night.

A great master class from Femi followed by a challenging and robust performance.

Great little theatre with interesting plays. Would go again.

Far and away the best theatre in the whole of London

Only been there once to see a show call daughter in law great show the theatre is small but it a nice place to go to see a show there do drink

Went to watch secret lives of Baba Segi's wives and loved the play. It's a small theatre but it's nice and intimate.

Intimate place, which is another word for small, but the opera production tonight was magnificent and had a huge impact. Wonderful singing and orchestra.
Trendy warehouse feel to the licensed bar and I love the toilets which recycle water from washing your hands straight down to flush the loo!

Staff and drinks are great. Beautiful, diverse and characterful crowd.

An excellent fringe venue with friendly cafe/bar. First rate productions.

The space is great, the attitude of the staff is appalling. They seem to represent everything that is wrong with millennials ....

Small theatre space and bar. Other studio spaces with events on

Nice Theater with a great cafe/bar and live music in on Friday and Saturday.

Wonderful North London theatre great atmosphere friendly staff very good seating comfortable and all with excellent view good bar as well

Excellent venue with some unique shows on. Really showcases new writers. Check out their 'passport' deal as it's really good value. Decent priced bar.

I attended a drop-in Lindy Hop class here on a Friday night and stuck around to dance to live music in the cafe later that night. Cosy place, friendly crowd.

The studios are great if you like an up-close and visceral experience

Anything can happen in the next ninety minutes in the two studios that make this Dalston venue a go-to buzz: from a.chamber opera of Britten's at Arcola's Grimeborn Festival to a two-hander on working class Asian girls growing up in Newham around 7/7 back to Ethel Smyth's 1914 opera of self-determination with full cast and orchestra reduced to a pub trio (well it's set in a pub). And an adaptation of Nigerian polygamy (Babi Saga's Wives) following DH Lawrence on wives mothers and sons, following Mike Bartlett's revived debut on young war and ancient pacifism across three generations. All here with a superb bar, relaxed spaces and very welcoming staff.

Really good for new talent great source theatrical entertainment

It's a terrific little theatre where we've just seen the most brilliant production of Richard III. If people appreciate good theatre then you must go.

Amazing local theatre - affordable tickets and incredible productions. Go!

What a lovely little theatre! Super friendly staff and a very intimate set. Bar is a great place to chat.

Also, though it's a minor point, they have trans* friendly bathrooms.

I getting this five stars because as well as being a public institution it has the very first hydrogen fuel cell installation clean energy system in London!

Yet another great production, this time it was The Canary and The Crow

One of the best theatres in London, out of West End. They have some great productions and it definitely worths checking what's on.

Did an experience tour with Jordan. Excellent and informative as well as engaging. what a great theater.

Smart boutique theatre in trendy Dalston with a heritage of alternative shows and support of local and emerging talent.

Situated in a recently upgraded section of the Bootstrap building featuring an excellent bar and surrounded by loads of bars and restaurants.

Friendly, cosy, informal bar and very professional enjoyable opera.

First rate production with high-energy performances.

Came here after hours. Bar and door staff are really friendly. The music is really good and it's got a nice vibe. I didn't find it too expensive for the price.

Good music and friendly staff.