Modern contemporary dance and music performance space.
Occupying a site with a long tradition of entertaining Londoners, Sadler's Wells exists to bring the best of national and international dance, ballet, opera and music theatre to the capital. Now a strikingly modern building with flexible performance and auditorium spaces, the original Sadler’s Wells opened in 1683. Six Sadler’s Wells’ later and sleek steel and glass have replaced the crumbling brick edifice of previous centuries. Originally a music hall, the venue now boasts a resoundingly contemporary but extremely accessible programme - with an emphasis on dance and movement - supported by innovative visual arts exhibitions in its public spaces. Sadler's really came into its own when Lilian Baylis took charge in the 1920s. Since then many of the world's best dancers have performed on this Islington stage. In 1995, Matthew Bourne premiered his magnificent ‘Swan Lake’ here which went on to become the West End's longest running ballet. Sadler's Wells continues to have close associations with the centrally located Peacock Theatre, its home during periods of renovation, while the Lilian Baylis Theatre - now a highly regarded venue in itself – is located within the Sadler’s Well Islington complex. It’s really worth checking out what’s on here if you’re down for the weekend. Ranging from the cutting-edge to the mainstream, some truly landmark productions have taken place here over the years (‘Edward Scissorhands’) – which make this an attractive proposition for entertainment in the capital.
Best for:
Ballet and Bourne, 'Swan Lake' and 'Scissorhands', contemporary dance and classics.
Did you know?
Sadler's Wells takes its name from the theatre’s original founder, Richard Sadler, and the wells that were discovered on the site.
Photo: Morley von Sternburg
What's on at
Sadler's Wells
Sutra 13th March 2010 - 26th March 2010 The Belgian-based Flemish / Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is,...
Price: £10-£35
Danza Contemporanea de Cuba 19th March 2010 - 20th March 2010 The Latin fever continues at Sadler's Wells this spring when...
Family Weekend at Sadler's Wells
Sadler's Wells Theatre, EC1R 4TN
2nd & 3rd April 2010
There's something for every member of your troupe at the Family Weekend... More
Sara Baras
Royal Albert Hall, SW7 2AP
12th - 14th March 2010
In the world of flamenco, Caditz-born dancer Sara Baras, is "one of the classiest, most... More
Flamenco Festival London
Sadler's Wells Theatre, EC1R 4TN
13th - 27th February 2010
Foot-stamping and skirt-swirling drama returns to Sadler's Wells for two weeks with the... More
Big Dance
Sadler's Wells Theatre, EC1R 4TN
3rd - 11th July 2010
The biennial Big Dance festival is back, turning London into the dance capital for one... More
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The Latin fever continues at Sadler's Wells this spring when Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, Cuba's famous dance company, comes to London for two nights only ...More
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The Belgian-based Flemish / Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is, by his very heritage, open to more than a few cultural influences. But it was ...More
The Latin fever continues at Sadler's Wells this spring when Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, Cuba's famous dance company, comes to London for two nights only ...More
There's something for every member of your troupe at the Family Weekend at Sadler's Wells, a two-day dance festival aimed at audiences aged 4 to ...More
The award-winning choreographer Akram Khan presents his new classical Kathak dance piece, Gnosis, a collaboration with Gauri Sharma Tripathi and Pratap Pawar, about a queen ...More
LondonTown.com has special discounts every week. The amount of discount will vary depending on the dates you are coming and how far in advance you book. All discounts are subject to availability.
Modern contemporary dance and music performance space.
