| The Broadway | |
| Address: | Broadway |
| City: | Barking, London. |
| Country: | England |
| Coordinates: | 51.5355°N 0.0777°W |
| Architect: | Herbert Jackson & Reginald Edmonds. Tim Foster Architects (2004 regeneration) |
| Owner: | Barking & Dagenham College |
| Capacity: | 341 seated on two levels (840 standing) |
| Type: | Receiving house |
| Opened: | 1936 (renovated 2004) |
| Othernames: | The Broadway Theatre |
| Website: | thebroadwaybarking.com |
The Broadway is a performance venue in Barking town centre. The building was previously a facility known as Barking Assembly Hall, forming part of Barking Town Hall.[1] While it is currently a live working performance venue the building is also one of four campuses for Barking & Dagemham College, hosting the college s production and performance courses.[2]
The building formed part of the Barking Town Hall complex and was completed in 1961.[3] It was officially opened by Tom Driberg MP as Barking Assembly Hall in May 1961.[4]
Sir Adrian Boult conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra in the assembly hall on 26 November 1969.[5]
In 1971, the renowned Canadian singer songwriter Neil Young recorded two tracks from Harvest, his best selling and most famous album, at the Broadway when it was known as Barking Assembly Hall (but is credited as Barking Town Hall on the album notes.) Young recorded these two tracks "A Man Needs a Maid" and "There's a World" for his Harvest album in Barking with Jack Nitzsche and the London Symphony Orchestra. in March 1971. The album was released on 1 February 1972.[6]
In December 1989, the boxing promoter, Frank Warren, was shot by a lone gunman as he arrived for a boxing match at the venue.[7]
The building was remodeled as an arts centre and auditorium with a seated capacity of 341, designed by Tim Foster Architects, in 2006.[8] The venue is managed by Barking and Dagenham College and aims to improve access to arts facilities in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and the surrounding areas of east London. The Broadway is also home to Barking & Dagenham College's Performing Arts School.[9]