Kiln Theatre
A theatre and cinema in Kilburn, northwest London, known for culturally diverse programming, new writing and politically engaged verbatim theatre.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Kiln Theatre is a producing and presenting theatre, cinema and community arts venue on Kilburn High Road in the London Borough of Brent, England. It opened in 1980 as the permanent home of the Wakefield Tricycle Company, a touring theatre company founded in 1972 by Ken Chubb and Shirley Barrie. The company had initially performed in a room behind the Pindar of Wakefield pub in King’s Cross; its name referred both to the pub, the medieval Wakefield Cycle of mystery plays and the original three-person company. Before establishing a permanent venue, the company toured new writing, British premieres, children’s work and community productions to arts centres and small theatres across Britain. The permanent building was created through the conversion of Foresters’ Hall on Kilburn High Road, with support from Brent council, the Greater London Council and Arts Council England. The site had previously served as a cinema, music and dance hall and municipal offices. The original 235-seat auditorium was designed by Tim Foster and theatre consultant Iain Mackintosh, drawing on the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, Yorkshire. Its unusual configuration used free-standing scaffolding and padded benches, with the principal acting area extending onto a large apron in front of the existing proscenium. The theatre’s artistic identity developed around work reflecting the cultural diversity of Kilburn and London, alongside new plays, adaptations, international work, children’s theatre and political productions. It became particularly associated with verbatim reconstructions of public inquiries, often called the Tribunal Plays. These works used testimony and documentary records to examine subjects including arms trading, war crimes, racism, Northern Ireland, the Iraq War and the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Several productions transferred to larger London venues, toured nationally or internationally, and were adapted for broadcast. A fire originating in a neighbouring timber yard seriously damaged the building in 1987. Following extensive fundraising, the theatre was rebuilt and reopened in 1989. A 300-seat cinema was added in 1998, followed by the Creative Space in 2001 for education and community activity. A major refurbishment from 2016 to 2018 created a flexible 292-seat auditorium, individual seating, improved wheelchair access, additional toilets, better backstage and technical access, and a street-facing café. The refurbished venue reopened in September 2018. The organisation changed its name from Tricycle Theatre to Kiln Theatre in April 2018. The change was intended to associate the organisation more directly with Kilburn and to evoke the kiln as a cross-cultural symbol of making, transformation and creativity. The decision generated public criticism and petitions from supporters of the former name, while other theatre professionals publicly defended the rebrand. Trustees reported that more than half of the audience for the 2018 reopening season were first-time visitors. Leadership has included founding artistic director Ken Chubb, Nicolas Kent, Indhu Rubasingham and Amit Sharma. Kent took over artistic leadership in 1984 and oversaw the venue’s development as a centre for documentary and political theatre. Rubasingham became artistic director in 2012 after previously directing at the theatre and left the role in December 2023. Amit Sharma succeeded her. The theatre’s repertoire has included works by Lynn Nottage, Patrick Barlow, Richard Bean, David Edgar, Stephen Jeffreys, Abi Morgan, Simon Stephens, Roy Williams, Lolita Chakrabarti, Moira Buffini, Alexi Kaye Campbell, Florian Zeller, Ayad Akhtar and Zadie Smith. Its work has received major recognition, including an Evening Standard Special Drama Award, a Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement and a Liberty Human Rights Award.
History
Kiln Theatre originated in the Wakefield Tricycle Company, established in 1972 by Ken Chubb and Shirley Barrie. The touring company began in a room behind the Pindar of Wakefield pub in King’s Cross and developed a repertoire of more than 60 plays, including new writing, British premieres, children’s work and community productions. Its name combined references to the pub, the Wakefield Cycle of mystery plays and the company’s original three members. In 1980, with public-sector and arts-funding support, the company converted Foresters’ Hall on Kilburn High Road into a permanent theatre. The venue was selected partly because local residents had limited access to entertainment facilities. Designed by Tim Foster and Iain Mackintosh, the first auditorium seated approximately 235 people and used a distinctive courtyard-like configuration. The company dropped “Wakefield” from its name and operated as the Tricycle Theatre. Ken Chubb handed artistic leadership to Nicolas Kent in 1984. Under Kent, the theatre strengthened its commitment to work about race, identity, international affairs and public accountability. From 1994 it developed a notable series of documentary productions based on public inquiries and hearings. Half the Picture, concerning the Scott Inquiry into arms sales to Iraq, was followed by works on Nuremberg, Srebrenica, the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, the Hutton Inquiry, Guantanamo and the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday. These productions used testimony and documentary evidence as dramatic material, and several transferred to major venues or travelled internationally. The building was severely damaged by a fire in 1987 that spread from a neighbouring timber yard. Fundraising enabled reconstruction, and the theatre reopened in 1989 with limited alterations. Its facilities expanded with the addition of a 300-seat cinema in 1998 and the Creative Space in 2001, supporting education and community programmes. The venue continued to combine a local cultural mission with nationally and internationally visible productions. Indhu Rubasingham became artistic director in 2012, having previously directed several productions at the theatre. Her period included Red Velvet, The Great Game: Afghanistan and a broad programme of new writing, adaptations and politically informed work. In July 2016 the organisation began a substantial refurbishment designed by Chapman Architects. The work introduced a flexible 292-seat auditorium, individual seats, eight wheelchair positions at stalls level, expanded public and backstage accessibility, more toilets, technical bridges and a new façade and café. In April 2018 the organisation announced that it would be renamed Kiln Theatre. The stated rationale was to establish a stronger relationship with Kilburn and to use the kiln as a metaphor for creativity shared across cultures. The change attracted a petition and competing open letters from theatre figures, former leaders and trustees. The refurbished building reopened on 5 September 2018, and trustees later reported that over half of the visitors to the reopening season were new audience members. Rubasingham left the artistic-director role in December 2023 and was succeeded by Amit Sharma. The organisation remains a theatre and cinema venue whose work spans producing, presenting, commissioning, touring, education and community activity. Its historical reputation rests especially on presenting culturally diverse stories and turning documentary and political material into accessible performance.
- 2023
Amit Sharma becomes artistic director
[1]Sharma succeeded Rubasingham as artistic director.
- 2018
Venue renamed Kiln Theatre
[1]The organisation adopted its current name during the refurbishment and reopened in September with upgraded facilities.
- 2016
Major refurbishment begins
[1]Work began on the auditorium and front-of-house areas under Chapman Architects.
- 2012
Indhu Rubasingham becomes artistic director
[1]Rubasingham succeeded Nicolas Kent after a period of guest directing at the theatre.
- 2006
Political work receives major recognition
[1]The theatre received an Evening Standard Special Drama Award for pioneering political work.
- 2001
Creative Space opens
[1]A dedicated space was created for education and community work.
- 1998
Cinema added
[1]A 300-seat cinema expanded the complex beyond live theatre.
- 1994
First tribunal play
[1]Half the Picture dramatised the Scott Inquiry into arms sales to Iraq and began the theatre’s recognised tribunal-play tradition.
- 1989
Theatre rebuilt and reopens
[1]After fundraising and reconstruction, the venue returned to operation.
- 1987
Major fire damages the building
[1]A fire from a neighbouring timber yard caused extensive damage to the theatre.
Products and positioning
A culturally diverse, socially engaged London theatre combining new writing, documentary performance, international work, cinema and community participation.
Live theatre · 1980
Main-stage theatre productions
The theatre produces and presents plays, adaptations, revivals and international work in its Kilburn auditorium. Its programming has emphasised culturally diverse stories, new writing, political subjects and work by writers from varied national and social backgrounds.
Documentary theatre · 1994
Tribunal Plays
A body of verbatim and documentary performances reconstructed from public inquiries, hearings and testimony. Subjects have included arms trading, war crimes, the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, Iraq, Guantanamo and Bloody Sunday. Several productions transferred to larger venues, toured or reached audiences through broadcast.
Cinema venue · 1998
Cinema
A cinema incorporated into the theatre complex, extending the organisation’s screen and cultural-programming offer beyond live performance.
Participation and learning · 2001
Education and community programmes
Workshops, community activity and learning programmes supported by the Creative Space and the theatre’s wider local engagement mission.
Controversies
2018
Controversy over the Tricycle name change
The decision to replace the established Tricycle Theatre name generated a petition alleging that the change was unnecessary and wasteful. Former artistic directors, trustees and other public figures opposed it, while other theatre professionals defended the rebrand.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Kiln Theatre name-change campaign
United Kingdom
The organisation introduced the Kiln Theatre name to connect the venue more strongly with Kilburn and to frame the kiln as a symbol of creative transformation across cultures. A public petition opposed the change, while separate open letters from industry figures supported it.
Outcome. The new name was retained and the refurbished venue reopened as Kiln Theatre in September 2018.
Brand decisions
2018
Rename the organisation Kiln TheatreStrategyBackground
During a major building refurbishment, the organisation sought a name more closely associated with Kilburn and its international, culturally diverse creative identity.
Action taken
The Tricycle Theatre brand was replaced by Kiln Theatre in April 2018, alongside the planned reopening of the refurbished venue.
Aftermath
The decision prompted public opposition and support, but the new name remained in use after reopening. Trustees reported that more than half of the reopening-season audience were first-time visitors.
2016
Refurbish the auditorium and front-of-house areasOtherBackground
The existing venue required improvements to flexibility, capacity, accessibility and technical infrastructure.
Action taken
The theatre began a refurbishment led by Chapman Architects, creating a flexible 292-seat auditorium, improved accessibility, additional facilities and a street-facing café.
Aftermath
The upgraded building reopened on 5 September 2018.
Sources1 sources
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