The Barbican Centre

 

Barbican Centre

 

VO: London is famous for its iconic landmarks and since 1982 a unique arts venue has taken its place in the heart of the city. Showcasing the best of music, theatre, film and art, this is the world renowned Barbican Centre.

 

Graham Sheffield, Barbican Centre

You can experience all the arts here as if you were in a giant superstore and the more you explore the more you find out.

 

Peter Sellars, Director

I love the barbican as, as it’s exactly in the middle of everything this kind of unexpected flower

 

Graham Sheffield, Barbican Centre

The barbican has a brilliant performance spaces and brilliant visual art spaces so the spaces themselves are incredibly exciting and comfortable, some of the most comfortable in London. The ambience is terrific. The atmosphere is terrific so we are able to attract the top quality international artists whether classical musicians or actors or theatre company’s or dancers from around the world.

 

Peter Sellars, Director

It’s just constantly surprising you come here and you’re never going to have the experience you thought you would have.

 

Janine Jansen, Violinist

Well the barbican hall is a fantastic hall it has a beautiful acoustic. It feels like you can do anything. You can play as soft as possible and people will hear it.

 

VO: The performers love coming to the Barbican but one thing that people can’t agree on is the unique architecture…

 

Peter Sellars, Director

Londoners are so great about adapting to a place that’s just a little ugly and taking it to their heart

 

Graham Sheffield, Barbican Centre

It was once one of the most loathed buildings in London and it’s now one of the most iconic and very much loved by the architect community and by the younger generation, its come back into fashion. It’s sort of found itself as an identity 40years now after it was originally built or designed 

 

VO: So what makes the Barbican such a special venue for the arts?

 

Janine Jansen, Violinist

Oh I think because of the wonderful atmosphere. I think for me that’s what music is about.

 

Peter Sellars, Director

Audiences keep meeting each other here because performances overlap so the lobbies have a lot of buzz and there’s a lot of juice going on, so you can get the vibe from the place.

 

Graham Sheffield, Barbican Centre

I think the barbican is the best place in London to experience all of the arts to experience the classical arts the contemporary arts and all with an international standard and astonishing diversity.