Projects

Sadler’s Wells East

Location

Stratford, London

Year

2025

Capacity

550 Seat Theatre and 6 Studio Spaces

‘From First Steps to Final Performance’

Choreographing Innovation

At the heart of East London’s new cultural quarter, Sadler’s Wells East is more than just a new venue – it’s a space built to move with the times. As part of the £1.1 billion East Bank development in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, it represents a major investment in the future of dance in the UK. Designed with both emerging talent and world-renowned choreographers in mind, it brings together a 550-seat flexible theatre, six state-of-the-art studios and a welcoming public foyer made for pop-up performances and community events.

This isn’t just a place to perform – it’s a place to experiment, learn and create. From the Rose Choreographic School to the UK’s first hip hop theatre academy, Sadler’s Wells East is helping shape what dance can be – now and in the future.

LSI Projects’ Contribution

LSI Projects were appointed to design, supply, install, test and commission all Stage Lighting and Audio Visual infrastructure across the entire building – including the theatre, six studios, foyer performance area and back/front of house paging and relay systems.

Core Systems Delivered:

Lighting:
- 4 × ETC 96-way Sensor cabinets providing 382 circuits
- 46 Stage Lighting Boxes (SLBs) with full data and DMX infrastructure
- ETC Paradigm system with touchscreen and button station control
- ETC Arc Series and Irideon house lights (track and portable), with integration across FOH, BOH, and stage
- White workers and blue running lights across all technical areas
Audio & AV:
- 96 AVB boxes delivering analogue audio, fibre, data, loudspeaker and video tie-lines
- 7 AV racks and primary/secondary Dante networks over Cisco switching
- Audio/Video DAs for routing and de-embedding signals
- Q-SYS-based show relay and paging system with control points across the venue
- LSI-manufactured custom Stage Manager’s Desk
- Theatre PA infrastructure (installed by Autograph via LSI systems); studio PAs installed directly by LSI
Studios & Outreach Spaces:
- Studio 1 fitted with scaled-down PL and AV infrastructure
- Power and dimming via ETC 24-way ColorSource ThruPower racks
- Overhead rigging, tielines, and flexible control layouts for all studios
- Community foyer space outfitted with rigging points, power and AV tielines for informal shows and installations

Supporting Flexibility

Flexibility was key to the design of the theatre. Its seating and floor plan can be adapted for a variety of stage formats – from traditional proscenium setups to in-the-round performances – making it a truly versatile space for artists and audiences alike. To support that versatility, LSI’s technical infrastructure had to be just as adaptable.

With no substage and a compact footprint, every inch of space had to work hard. That meant smart planning, creative problem-solving and close collaboration with Mace, Charcoalblue and Spie to make sure the technical systems integrated seamlessly with the architecture and engineering behind the scenes.

Challenges & Solutions

With shifting restrictions and a remote-working landscape due to COVID-era restrictions, the team had to stay flexible, communicate clearly and adapt quickly. But through careful coordination and problem-solving, the infrastructure was delivered on time and to spec, with no compromises on quality.

LSI Projects’ Contribution Included:

Design & Installation of Stage Lighting Infrastructure
Full AV Tie-line & Paging Network across All Spaces
Q-SYS Show Relay & Custom Stage Management Control
Integration of ETC, Dante, Q-SYS, and Cisco Technologies
Support for Touring Rigs, Educational Use, and Public Installations

Conclusion

Sadler’s Wells East isn’t just a new building – it’s a creative engine. With LSI Projects delivering adaptable, high-performance infrastructure, the venue now supports every step of the creative process: from the first spark of an idea to the final performance on stage. Whether it’s a world-class production, a first-time choreographer testing ideas, or a community event in the foyer, this is a space that’s ready to evolve with its artists.

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