Alistair Hardaker
Image: The Museum of Shakespeare, The Stage - interior shot showing archaeology in situ (c) Timothy Soar
First look inside the upcoming museum which will showcase the archaeological remains of the Curtain Playhouse
Building work at the Museum of Shakespeare has now completed, bringing the upcoming Shoreditch museum a step closer to opening its doors.
The museum will feature an archaeological site that was uncovered during the early stages of construction of a mixed-use urban quarter, the remains of Shakespeare’s Curtain Playhouse.
Set to open in 2025, the museum displays the site which is believed to be where the plays Romeo & Juliet and Henry V are to have been first staged.
The scheme is designed by Perkins&Will, who have made the museum the centerpiece of The Stage, a new mixed-use urban quarter in east London.
The museum building has been constructed below ground level, allowing visitors to walk over a floating glass viewing platform above the archaeological remains at the height of the original stage.
Above ground a stainless-steel façade has been constructed with a bird-shaped cut out, referencing a ceramic bird whistle found during the excavation, which is thought to have been used for sound effects during the performance of the plays at the theatre.
The museum experience will be delivered by creative studio Bompas & Parr, in collaboration with Cain International, Museum of London Archaeology and Historic England.
Ben Tooley, Managing Director, Cain International, said: “In collaboration with our partners we are proud to showcase the significant archaeological discoveries of the Curtain Theatre to the public within the thoughtfully designed surroundings of the Museum of Shakespeare.
“Once open, we anticipate the historic cultural centre will enjoy a new lease of life through a dynamic and immersive museum experience at the centre of the exceptional destination we are creating at The Stage.”
