Theatre Royal Stratford East will be embarking on an ambitious project to build a new theatre, The Red Crate. 

The new building, which will be constructed opposite the current theatre, will link with the adjacent empty catering unit, which Theatre Royal Stratford East intends to transform into a fresh café/bar for the area, as well as providing front of house facilities. 

The addition to the Cultural Quarter will enhance the area’s existing night time entertainment and play an important role in establishing Stratford East as a vibrant cultural destination for the local community and visitors as part the ongoing regeneration of the area. It will also enable the theatre to extend its commitment to the young people of East London. 

The relationship between Theatre Royal Stratford East and the National Theatre began earlier this year with free performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for Newham students and residents, in association with the London Borough of Newham. The new arts venue will be a sister building to the National Theatre’s temporary theatre, designed by award-winning architects Haworth Tompkins.
The theatre has launched its capital fundraising campaign of £4.5m and a public consultation will take place this autumn.

“The Red Crate is a ground-breaking venture for Theatre Royal Stratford East, resulting from a new relationship between them and the National Theatre, which will add to the burgeoning cultural quarter that is developing in east London as a legacy of the 2012 Games,” says Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

“With our plans for Olympicopolis in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park it will be another reason to visit and help fulfil our commitment to achieving the economic, social and cultural potential of the area