King’s Head Theatre is the new home for one of the UK’s oldest and most renowned pub theatres, previously located in the back room of the King's Head pub. The theatre, which showcases LGBTQ+ work, now occupies an independent, larger capacity subterranean space in Islington Square. The project includes the entrance, circulation areas and two bars, which are also used for workspace, rehearsals, classes and cabaret venue.

Through consultation with members of the theatre's creative network, we identified that the spaces could go beyond serving evening audiences. The upper bar allows for day-time usage and space for working, socialising and networking, in support of the wider theatre ecosystem and bringing up new talent. The floor of the lower bar, which leads directly into the theatre, may be cleared for rehearsals and LGBTQ+ specific classes and events when not in use for refreshments and cabaret in the evening.

The theatre's artistic policy of "joyful, irreverent, colourful and queer" formed an important touchstone of the design brief and informed the palette, look and feel of the spaces. Bold and unconventional colour combinations - pink, purple, indigo and red - are used throughout. Coloured, programmable lighting allows the atmosphere to transition from workspace, to rehearsal, to nightlife.