Meet the Venue: Riverside Studios

As a successful event crew, Gallowglass has had some fantastic opportunities and worked in a wide variety of different venues across the country. The ‘Meet the Team’ series we do here on our blog is to showcase these incredible venues, give a little history on them and the work we have carried out there.

For March, we had a look at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, London. We will explore its fascinating history and also delve into some of the exciting work we have done there.

A Brief History

Back in 1933, what was once an ironworks on Crisp Road in Hammersmith was transformed into a film studio. It went on to produce classic films such as The Seventh Veil (1945) with James Mason, Father Brown (1954) with Alec Guinness and The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950).

BBC Television Took Over

Then, in 1954, BBC Television acquired the studio, and it became home to some of their most famous and iconic programmes, including Doctor Who (1964 to 1968), Quatermass and the Pit (1958 to 1959) and Hancock's Half Hour (1957 to 1960).

The Creation of Riverside Studios

In 1975, the building was administered by an independent trust to be used as a local community arts centre and was named Riverside Studios. It wasn’t until January in 1978 that the venue became fully operational. Its first official production was with Artistic Director Peter Gill's “The Cherry Orchard”. Following this, the studio went on to acquire an international reputation!

Some Unforgettable Figures at Riverside Studios

Riverside Studios brought theatre, dance, comedy, music and television to West London for the world to enjoy. Some famous faces that have appeared at the studios include:

• Helen Mirren
• David Bowie
• Ant and Dec
• Amy Winehouse
• Samuel Beckett
• Lenny Henry

Riverside Studios Refurbishment

Riverside Studios closed its doors in 2014 for a big redevelopment programme. It was closed for just over five years and re-opened its doors at the beginning of 2020. The refurbishment features two theatres, television studios, a cinema, multiple rehearsal rooms and event spaces, as well as restaurants and bars.

Recent Work at Riverside Studios

There have always been big shows and films at Riverside Studios, and more recently Channel 4 recorded their election coverage here. Also, the BRITs nominations show was filmed here.

Gallowglass at Riverside Studios

We’ve worked at the incredible Riverside Studios since 2003, and we have directly worked for Riverside and as well as over 30 different clients. During our time at Riverside Studios, we have utilised over 800 crew!

We Have Worked on a Variety of Exciting Shows

Some of the shows that we have worked on at Riverside Studios include:

• Celebrity Juice
• Derren Brown
• The Russell Howard Show

If you are interested in hiring the Gallowglass crew for your next event, why not get in contact with us today? Whether you are planning months in advance or you are looking for a last-minute event crew, we can surely help you out!

You can get in touch by giving us a call on 0345 300 2468, or you can drop us an email at events@gallowglass.com. Alternatively, you can visit our social media channels and send us a message.

You might also be interested in:

Meet the Venue: Elstree Studios
Meet the Venue: Royal Opera House

Feature Image: CC by Wikipedia