Riverside Studios

Riverside Studios is one of West London's leading centres for contemporary and international dramatic performance, film, exhibitions and television production.

History

The Triumph Film Company moved, in 1933, to a former factory building located in Hammersmith, west London. They produced many well known films there under the ownership of Jack Buchanan.

In 1954 the studio was acquired by the BBC for its television service. In particular, series 2-6 of "Hancock's Half Hour" (1957-60) were made at Riverside. Drama and music shows were also produced there, including "Quatermass and the Pit" (1958–59) and early episodes of "Doctor Who". It was also the regular home of children's programmes "Jackanory" and "Play School" and the facility was in continuous use until the late 1970's.

In 1975, a charitable trust, formed by the local municipal authority, took control of the centre after the BBC moved out and, slowly, a cinema and performing arts spaces were established, designed by architect Michael Reardon. In 1976 Peter Gill was appointed as Riverside's first director, and established the arts centre as a leading London arts theatre with his acclaimed productions of "The Cherry Orchard" (1976), "The Changeling" (1975) and "Measure for Measure" (1979).

The centre was used to broadcast the 1990s Channel 4 Chris Evans vehicle "TFI Friday". ' was broadcast from Riverside from 2003 until 2006. Recent projects include BBC's "Mighty Truck of Stuff" and ' and Ch 4's "T4" and "Popworld"

Managing Director: Colin Black

Technical Director: Duncan Stewart

Studio Manager: Bobbi Blackman

Operations Manager: Mark Swan

ources

*"Who's Who in the Theatre" 17th edition, Gale Publishing (1982) ISBN 0810302357

External links

* [http://www.riversidestudios.co.uk/ Riverside Studios] - official theatre web site
* [http://www.riversidetv.co.uk/ Riverside TV Studios Ltd] - manage the Television Facility
* [http://www.theriversidestory.co.uk/ The Riverside Story] - History of the Building
* [http://www.tvstudiohistory.co.uk/old%20bbc%20studios.htm#riverside Riverside Studios] - History of the film and TV studios