History
The theatre was founded in 1980 in a Grade II* listed building which originally opened in 1893 as Battersea Town Hall. The building was designed in 1891 by E. W. Mountford. The space was converted to a community arts centre in 1974. BAC currently receives grants towards the building's operating costs from Arts Council England and the London Borough of Wandsworth, among others.
In 1901 a large pipe organ was installed in the Grand Hall. This was an unusual instrument designed by Robert Hope-Jones, a pioneering organ builder who invented many aspects of the modern pipe organ. His ideas went on to form the basis of the Wurlitzer theatre organ in the 1920s and 30s. The BAC pipe organ has been unusable for years, but restoration work has begun.
David Jubb has been the BAC's artistic director since 2004. In 2008 he was joined by David Micklem, with whom he shares the Joint Artistic Directorship of BAC. In October 2012 Micklem announced his decision to step down.
BAC operates a "scratch" methodology as part of its "ladder of development" for new work. Performances are shown at various stages of development to an outside audience, whose input and criticism guides the further evolution of the work.
The old Town Hall was used as a location in a rock movie of the 1970's. Rock band Slade used the location for the filming of "Slade In Flame" (1975). It featured as the location for Barry's (played by Dave Hill) 21st Birthday party.
On 8 and 9 October 2012, the pop band McFly used the location to film a video for their single "Love Is Easy".
Read more about this topic: Battersea Arts Centre
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