Southwark Playhouse Elephant

Southwark Playhouse Elephant is the larger of Southwark Playhouse’s two Elephant & Castle venues, at 1 Dante Place. The operator describes the organisation as a fringe theatre presenting work by new and emerging practitioners, while Southwark Council specifically says the Elephant venue aims to showcase up-and-coming talent and work with schools. Its programme is therefore more closely associated with developing artists and locally engaged theatre than with being a conventional receiving house. (Southwark Playhouse’s mission; Southwark Council’s venue profile)

The venue has a distinct two-part character: its Main Space is a flexible auditorium that can seat up to 311 people, depending on the configuration, and the building also contains a dedicated Participation Space. This gives it a medium-sized performance room alongside space for theatre-making activity, rather than just a single auditorium. (Elephant venue information)

Locally, it sits in Elephant & Castle, alongside the organisation’s Borough venue; the council lists both as Southwark Playhouse’s two venues. The operator also says its year-round participation work is free and serves people from young children to older participants, with access, diversity and inclusion identified as priorities. (Southwark Playhouse’s mission)

Southwark Playhouse Elephant is served by Elephant & Castle Underground station on the Northern and Bakerloo lines. The venue advises using the Shopping Centre exit; it states that the walk from this exit to the theatre is approximately five minutes. Southwark Playhouse’s access information says the station is partially step-free, with step-free access available only on southbound Northern line services.

The nearest listed bus stops are Newington Butts, served by routes 133, 155, 196, 333 and 415, and Elephant & Castle Station, served by routes 12, 35, 40, 68, 133, 136, 148, 155, 171, 176, 196, 333, 343, 415, 468 and P5. The venue also states that Elephant & Castle Thameslink station is an estimated seven-minute walk away.

Driving is not recommended: the theatre says parking in the neighbouring area is very limited. Its listed Blue Badge options are YourParkingSpace Limited at Waterloo Hub Hotel & Suites, SE1 7BJ, and NCP London Bridge, SE1 3RU, which the venue identifies as open 24 hours. The venue does not publish a walking route from either car park, or information about cycle parking, a dedicated drop-off point or late-evening transport, so check current arrangements before travelling.

Southwark Playhouse Elephant is the newer home of an organisation founded in 1993 by Juliet Alderdice and Tom Wilson. The company began by leasing a disused workshop in Southwark, intended as an accessible space for emerging theatre-makers and its local community (Southwark Playhouse’s history).

The idea for a second, permanent Elephant and Castle venue was conceived in 2006, after years in rented premises (BBC News, 2023). The venue is a specialist theatre fit-out within a new residential tower on Newington Butts. Ian Chalk Architects designed and delivered the fit-out, including a flexible main auditorium and a smaller studio; their project record dates the completed venue to 2022 (Ian Chalk Architects). Its public opening followed in January 2023 (Southwark Playhouse’s volunteer pack).

The first shows included Bermondsey Revolution, while Enda Walsh’s The Walworth Farce—the first major production—opened on 17 February 2023 (BBC News). The organisation now operates Elephant alongside Southwark Playhouse Borough; its current Artistic Director and CEO is Chris Smyrnios (Southwark Playhouse staff listing). No earlier name or ownership change for the Elephant building is documented in the sources reviewed.