Project summary

Graeae Theatre Company is the leading disability-led theatrical company in the UK and has been long on the search for a permanent home. Finally, after nearly 30 years of a nomadic existence, Graeae has found a home.

The Hackney Omnibus is an old tram-shed on Kingsland Road in Hackney which has been renovated as a groundbreaking multi-functional space to provide Graeae with everything they could ever need. The tram-shed was built in 1920 as a horse-and-tram depot for the North Metropolitan Tramways. The purpose-built roadside archways, once used by horses, are now occupied by giant letters that spell out GRAEAE.

Charcoalblue worked collaboratively with the Architect and with Paragon, who have managed the installation works, on the new building’s capacity and on services for providing Graeae with a state-of-the-art rehearsal space. Work on this development was at an accelerated rate with Artillery Architecture & Interior Design creating an open, innovative space including a Creative Hub/Meeting Room, new offices and a Rehearsal Space to assist in the generation of Graeae’s extraordinary performances.

Charcoalblue designed and assisted in providing customised stagelighting and audiovisual equipment to make Graeae’s new rehearsal space the optimum creative and flexible space. This equipment ranges from bespoke portable lighting desk tables and neat lighting solutions, to a fully accessible overhead rigging system that can be operated from anywhere within the rehearsal space.