Sadler’s Wells

Sadler’s Wells is a world leader in contemporary dance, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the very best international and UK dance to London audiences and to audiences around the world. Under the Artistic Directorship of Alistair Spalding the theatre’s acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap. Since 2005 it has helped to bring over 80 new dance works to the stage and its international award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour the world, including Sutra, zero degrees, and PUSH.

In the last year alone, Sadler’s Wells has presented 140 performances of 12 productions in 51 international cities to audiences of over 130,000 at venues and festivals. Since 2005, Sadler’s Wells has produced 25 new shows, many of which have been nominated for international awards, and has presented shows at some of the most prestigious venues and festivals around the world including Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center (New York), Hong Kong Festival, Berliner Festspiele, Abu Dhabi Festival, Theatre Chaillot (Paris), Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico) and the National Centre for Performing Arts (Beijing).

Sadler’s Wells also provides a home to 16 world class Associate Artists and 3 Resident Companies including Sylvie Guillem, Akram Khan, Hofesh Shechter, Crystal Pite, Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and ZooNation. The theatre also supports and nurtures the next generation of talent through its National Youth Dance Company, Summer University programme, Wild Card initiative and its New Wave Associates.

Located in Islington in north London, the current theatre is the sixth to have stood on the site since it was first built by Richard Sadler in 1683. The venue has played an illustrious role in the history of theatre ever since with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera all having started at Sadler’s Wells.