Just need a space to experiment and discover?

Our Pay What You Can Membership offers a massively reduced rate on our main studios and allows you to book Studio 2 at our Haggerston location for whatever price you can afford.

We have two hire options:

  • To guarantee your slot, use the "Hire!" option below at £22 per hour.

  • Alternatively, you can "Pay What You Can." To access the Pay What You Can booking form, you’ll need to join our studio membership for £30, which covers a three-month block.

Pay What You Can bookings are available for actors, writers, and directors looking for a space to train, practice, or develop unfunded work. Talk to us about your needs and financial situation, and we can usually work something out.

All Pay What You Can bookings are considered "On Hold" in case a fully paid booking comes in. NOTE: If this happens, we will contact you, and you will have three options:
A - Pay the full price to secure your booking.
B - Move your booking to another free slot.
C - Request a refund.

If you'd prefer to secure your slot, please book by CLICKING HERE

Terms and Conditions for "Pay What You Can" Scheme

Overview: The "Pay What You Can" scheme at Playhouse East offers a three-month membership for £30. This membership grants access to our booking system, allowing members to book available studio time for rehearsals at a price they can afford. Playhouse East operates three spaces: Actors East Theatre in Dalston, and two spaces in Playhouse East, located in Haggerston—The Playhouse and STUDIO Tardieu.

Important Update: After years of running the "Pay What You Can" scheme, we have decided to introduce new terms and conditions. This decision comes from our commitment to continue offering this valuable service sustainably. Over time, we have observed challenges such as unfulfilled pledges and increased administrative and cleaning costs. These new terms are designed to ensure that we can keep providing affordable rehearsal spaces while maintaining the quality and availability of our facilities.

New Pricing Details:

  • Members will still be able to book our original Dalston Actors East Theatre at whatever price they can afford.

  • However, there will be new minimum prices for the Playhouse and STUDIO Tardieu:

    • The current minimum price of £8 per hour for the Playhouse will increase to £15 per hour starting in September.

    • Effective immediately, STUDIO Tardieu will now have a minimum price of £8 per hour.

Booking Process:

  1. Booking: Members can book any available studio time at a price they can afford.

  2. Clashing Bookings: If a full-price booking clashes with a "Pay What You Can" booking, we will offer the following options:

    • Move the booking to another available time.

    • Match the full price to keep the booking.

    • Receive a full refund.

Cancellations and Refunds:

  1. Cancellations within 7 Days: Refunds will be provided in the form of credit for future bookings.

  2. Cancellations within 24 Hours: No refund will be issued.

  3. No-Shows: Members will be charged the full hire rate.

Usage Policies:

  1. Personal Use: Members must be present at the booking and cannot transfer it to others.

  2. Booking Limit: Members can book up to three consecutive days. For bookings longer than this, we will discuss securing a budget for rehearsals.

  3. Check-In/Check-Out: Members are required to check in and check out by uploading a picture of the room. The room must be returned in its original condition, or any issues must be reported upon arrival.

  4. Room Condition: Members who do not check in and check out or leave the room in a mess will be charged the full hire rate.

By participating in the "Pay What You Can" scheme, members agree to adhere to these terms and conditions to ensure a fair and efficient use of our spaces. We appreciate your understanding and support as we strive to keep our services accessible to everyone.