The Stage Shoreditch Development

Located just north of Liverpool Street Station in East London, The Stage Shoreditch is a landmark mixed-use development that transforms a formerly landlocked and underutilised site into a vibrant new urban quarter. Spanning approximately one hectare (9,510 sqm), the site was previously occupied by low-grade mid-20th century office and industrial buildings, interspersed with a few architecturally significant historic structures. Bounded by Curtain Road to the west and a 19th-century railway viaduct to the east, the area once lacked permeability and public access.

A Brown Plaque on Hewett Street in 2012 suggested that the site may have once housed the Curtain Playhouse, a Tudor-era theatre. However, the exact location remained unknown—until archaeological investigations during the development revealed the theatre’s full remains, now recognised as one of only two Scheduled Monuments in the London Borough of Hackney.

The masterplan was designed to sensitively integrate with the historic character and fine urban grain of Shoreditch, while opening up the site through new pedestrian routes, generous public realm, and over an acre of landscaped open space. It preserves and celebrates the newly discovered Curtain Playhouse remains, offering the public a rare opportunity to connect with the rich history of Tudor theatre.

Over a period of more than 13 years, the development evolved through multiple planning applications and iterations, adapting to the discovery of heritage assets and adjustments in uses and requirements. In close collaboration with the London Borough of Hackney and the client team, the site has been transformed into a balanced, mixed-use neighbourhood. In addition to the archaeology founds, the masterplan also addressed a range of historic site elements, including two Grade II listed buildings, a 19th-century public house, a Victorian railway viaduct, and an operational electricity substation. The site lies within the South Shoreditch Conservation Area and is subject to London’s Protected Views of St Paul’s Cathedral.

The completed scheme comprises six new buildings, one archaeology site and one Victorian viaduct. It delivers over 221,000 sq ft of high-quality office space across two commercial buildings, a 38-storey residential tower with 412 homes, and 39,000 sq ft of retail, dining, and leisure uses. A network of inviting public spaces includes a new central plaza, a landscaped rooftop garden atop the restored viaduct, and comprehensive public realm improvements that reconnect the site with its urban surroundings.

At the heart of the development, the Shakespeare archaeology museum sits adjacent to the plaza, showcasing the excavated remains of the Curtain Playhouse. This cultural destination anchors the site and establishes The Stage as both a dynamic new neighbourhood and an internationally significant heritage landmark.

This project was delivered while working at Perkins & Will.