Arts

Business

What are the venue hire costs for the different spaces at Sadler's Wells?

The Dorfman Room costs £1,400 plus VAT per day, £1,000 plus VAT per half day, or £1,250 plus VAT per evening. The Mezzanine Level costs £2,100 plus VAT per day. The Lilian Baylis Studio costs £3,100 plus VAT per day (09:00-22:00). The Peacock Theatre costs £11,000 plus VAT per day, with an additional £6,500 plus VAT for a get-in day only.

What capacity limits apply to each space and seating configuration?

The Dorfman Room accommodates 64 people in cabaret style or 100 people in theatre style. The Mezzanine Level has a total floor area of 241.32m² and includes the Dorfman Room plus additional breakout spaces. The Lilian Baylis Studio has 180 theatre-style capacity with retractable raked seating. The Peacock Theatre accommodates larger audiences but specific capacity numbers weren't provided in the communications.

What technical equipment and AV support is included in the hire?

All spaces include Wi-Fi access, technical support, built-in PA systems linked to CD/iPod, drop-down screens, and built-in projectors connected to computers and memory sticks (HDMI cable only for laptops). The Dorfman Room and Mezzanine Level include portable plasma screens if multiple screens are needed. Free items include lecterns, 2 wired microphones, and cloakroom facilities.

What are the payment terms and deposit requirements?

For the Peacock Theatre, payment must be settled in advance with a non-refundable 50% deposit on signing and the remaining non-refundable 50% due two months prior to the event. A deposit on services and hired equipment is invoiced together with the venue hire fee for all spaces. Specific payment terms for other spaces weren't detailed in the communications.

Are there restrictions on catering and external suppliers?

Sadler's Wells manages all catering and bars in-house - no other caterers are allowed on site. They provide seasonal menus ranging from breakfasts and sandwiches to hot fork buffets and canapés. If you're showcasing a drinks brand without serving, this may be considered but requires approval and details about the brand must be shared.

What are the booking hours and any time restrictions?

Theatre spaces operate with booking hours of 09:00-22:00 each day. Get-out hours may run later than 22:00 after the final day as required. Technical support is provided 09:00-17:00. No equipment is present at the start of hire, so the first day begins with technical rigging and preparation before stage access.

What additional staffing costs should I budget for?

Technical staffing is mandatory for health and safety reasons - minimum of 1 senior technician plus 2 additional technical staff for theatre operations. Rates are single time Monday-Friday, time and a half on Saturdays, and double time on Sundays. Front of house and security staffing costs are recharged and invoiced separately. Staff costs apply to Sundays for all venues.

When are the venues typically unavailable due to programming or maintenance?

All theatres undergo maintenance during August and are unavailable for hire. September through December is the busy season with internal programming, making availability limited. December dates are typically booked up with programming. Availability varies significantly by month, so flexibility with dates is often required.

What approval process is required for external events?

All external enquiries require approval from Senior Management. You must provide an artistic presentation or video/photo material of your show or event. This approval process applies to all external bookings and is mandatory before confirming any reservation.

What are the ticketing arrangements and associated costs?

For ticketed events, hirers receive 100% ticket share. Ticketing service costs £300 plus VAT per production/performance and includes website listing and e-tickets. There's a 3% payment fee on all card and cash transactions for tickets sold. Ticket office staffing is extra and will be invoiced separately.

Are there commission charges on merchandise and programmes?

Yes, there's a 30% commission on all programmes and merchandise, which must be sold via Sadler's Wells' front of house staff. You cannot sell merchandise directly - all sales must go through their FOH team who will handle transactions and remit the remaining 70% to you.