The Yard Theatre opened in Hackney Wick in July 2011. The architecture is a collaboration with design & build firm Practice Architecture (creators of Frank's Cafe in Peckham).
Initially intended as a pop-up venue, the project met with such success that it has since become a permanent part of the Hackney Wick cultural scene.
In 2012 the venue re-opened for it's second season with even better bar and kitchen facilities. The food menu changes alongside the programming of the theatre changes, with different chefs in residence to cook special menus, often specifically inspired by the current show.
The work of the theatre with local community groups continues to be a core aspect of the Yard's mission. As a charity, the Yard is supported by the Legacy List, the Arts Council, the London Legacy Development Corporation and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
I have remained a trustee of the theatre.