URW has time of its life with new deal
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has signed a deal with Capital Theatre for a new permanent 36,000 sq ft venue at Westfield London, W12.
The group has signed an initial 10-year lease to transform the ground floor of the mall’s former Debenhams store into a theatre venue.
It will launch the venture with a stage version of the classic Patrick Swayze movie Dirty Dancing.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has signed a deal with Capital Theatre for a new permanent 36,000 sq ft venue at Westfield London, W12.
The group has signed an initial 10-year lease to transform the ground floor of the mall’s former Debenhams store into a theatre venue.
It will launch the venture with a stage version of the classic Patrick Swayze movie Dirty Dancing.
Set to open in October 2025, Capital Theatre at Westfield London will offer an intimate and immersive theatre experience, with each of its 620 seats placed within nine rows of the stage. The venue is to be operated by Adam Kenwright and his company Kindred Partners, in partnership with award-winning producer Karl Sydow.
Designed and built by the design team responsible for venues including the Bridge Theatre and the Young Vic, Westfield London’s Capital Theatre will have state-of-the-art backstage facilities, premium rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms and creative and technical spaces. Food and drink will also be served throughout the day at the foyer café, and a box office and merchandise store will be open seven days a week.
URW said the deal highlighted its long-term commitment to delivering innovative concepts in retail and leisure.
Westfield London already offers some with 180,000 sq ft of active leisure space and has a further 83,000 sq ft in development.
Constantin Wiesmann, director of leasing UK at URW, said: “Signing Capital Theatre at Westfield London and launching with Dirty Dancing marks an exciting evolution in our commitment to redefining retail destinations. This addition reflects the growing demand for immersive, diverse experiences in retail environments and underscores our vision of Westfield as a dynamic destination where culture and entertainment lead the way.”
Adam Kenwright, founder and managing partner at Kindred Partners, added: “Capital Theatre’s opening marks an exciting new chapter for London’s entertainment landscape. Purposefully designed to bring audiences closer to the action, the theatre arrives at a time when London’s theatre sector is thriving, with attendance set to reach new heights in 2024. Located in the heart of Westfield London, the venue brings a new depth to London’s entertainment scene, offering everything from shopping and dining to world-class theatre – all in one place.”
