Free Theatre and Weird Architecture at the V&A

'Ark' by Rintala Eggertsson Architects is an example of the small spaces in the V&A. Photo credit: V&A museum

Here at The First Pint, we are big fans of the V&A museum. We also like to delve once and again in a bit of theatre, especially when it is courtesy of one of the most surprising theatre groups in town, the Factory. When we heard that this weekend the Factory is collaborating with the V&A, it blew our minds. And when we saw that it was completely free, it just made our month!

As part of the 1:1 – Architecture Build Small Spaces exhibition, the Factory is performing six short new plays by six writers specifically commissioned for this occasion. The plays will be held this weekend in the Porter Gallery of the museum and it’s the first time a theatre production has been hosted by the V&A.

The plays are also a chance to experience the free exhibition, which in itself is ground-breaking. The museum asked nineteen architects from all over the world to come up with proposals for a small building that redefines the concept of a home and refuge. Out of those, seven were picked and constructed full-scale, to be housed in the confines of the museum for all to see.

'The Beetle's House' shows that this is no ordinary architecture. Photo credit: V&A museum

The results of the proposal are, for lack of a better word, mind bending. Ratatosk, designed by the Norwegian Helen & Hard Architects, resembles a mix between a tree and children holding hands while forming a ring on a meadow. On the other hand, the Beetle’s House by Japanese designer Terunobu Fujimori is very much like its name suggests: a wooden cottage held aloft by dangling beetle legs. As can be seen, this isn’t what you can expect from a normal architecture exhibit.

The exhibition runs from 15 June to 30 August, so there is still some time to enjoy it. However, the Factory plays are only shown this weekend and the schedule is as follows:

Friday 25 June – 7pm & 8:30pm

Saturday 26 June – 1pm & 3pm

Sunday 27 June – 1pm & 3pm