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Concrete interior of Purcell Room entrance at Southbank Centre

Purcell Room

Welcome to our most intimate auditorium

A 295-seat auditorium for music and performance, screenings, poetry readings and a variety of talks and debates, the Purcell Room offers you a real closeness to the arts.

Situated within our brutalist building complex, opened in 1967, the Purcell Room has become the perfect platform for new and emerging talent, but as also played host to some of the biggest names of the 20th century and beyond, including David Bowie, Daniel Barenboim, Marianne Faithfull and Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood.

Southbank Centre Studio

Find out how the Purcell Room is helping a new generation of artists and performers develop their talent.

More about Southbank Centre Studio

On now & coming up

More info for Warhaus feat. Julien Libeer
Two men pose in a living room with a dog; one sits on a sideboard and the other in a chair, with a large mirror behind.
Gigs

Warhaus feat. Julien Libeer

The one-off duo journey through a refined, captivating reinterpretation of Warhaus’ songs
Purcell Room
More info for Hannah Patterson: Ungone – the Play
A blonde woman in glasses and an olive green knit sweater smiles gently with her chin resting on her hand at a grey table.
Gigs

Hannah Patterson: Ungone – the Play

This devilishly intelligent play features Maxine Peake, Diana Quick, Jodie Whittaker and Ana da Silva
Purcell Room
More info for Stadio Live with Nish Kumar
Black and white image of two people sitting, smiling and leaning to the right
Literature & poetry

Stadio Live with Nish Kumar

Join Ryan Hunn and Musa Okwonga for a live edition of Stadio: A Football Podcast
Purcell Room
More info for Defining the Modern Pannist
Close-up of a silver steelpan drum with hand-written musical notes and two wooden mallets resting inside.
Talks & debates

Defining the Modern Pannist

Join a vital talk on the education of steel pan and carving better paths to professional careers
Purcell Room
More info for The Social Infrastructure of Steel
A woman in a memorial t-shirt sits with a young girl holding a Trinidad and Tobago flag, watching an indoor stage performance.
Literature & poetry

The Social Infrastructure of Steel

Examine how steel pan functions in our society at this panel discussion
Purcell Room
More info for Neoprene Genie: Dream Jump
Dancer onstage at a previous Neoprene Genie event.
Literature & poetry

Neoprene Genie: Dream Jump

An eddying, wild ride of speech, music, poetry and visuals untangling what it means to dream today
Purcell Room
More info for Colson Whitehead: Cool Machine
Colson Whitehead wearing a leather jacket against a light blue background.
Literature & poetry

Colson Whitehead: Cool Machine

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author looks at his exuberant novel that brings 1980s New York to life
Purcell Room
More info for Colin Grant: What We Leave We Carry
Colin Grant wearing a blue shirt and brown hat.
Literature & poetry

Colin Grant: What We Leave We Carry

An evening of candid, profoundly human, sometimes funny and always moving stories of migration
Purcell Room
More info for Mieko Kawakami: Sisters in Yellow
Mieko Kawakami wearing a black dress standing against a pale blue background.
Literature & poetry

Mieko Kawakami: Sisters in Yellow

The author of Breasts and Eggs presents her bold noir thriller, in conversation with Georgina Godwin
Purcell Room
More info for The Rest Is Money: Live
Hosts of The Rest is Money sitting together in front of a wall of clocks.
Literature & poetry

The Rest Is Money: Live

Witness the debut live show of Robert Peston and Steph McGovern’s popular podcast
Purcell Room
More info for Football Cliches: Live
Three men sitting on a green sofa on an empty stage.
Literature & poetry

Football Cliches: Live

Everyone’s favourite alternative football podcast brings its unique energy to the stage
Purcell Room
More info for Sherlock & Co.
Drawing of a messy room with two people sleeping on the couch and a man playing the violin next to them.
Literature & poetry

Sherlock & Co.

Enjoy an exclusive original story performed by the full cast of the popular audio drama
Purcell Room
More info for The Book Club
Hosts of The Book Club leaning against a book shelf.
Literature & poetry

The Book Club

The new literary podcast goes live for the first time, with Dominic Sandbrook and Tabby Syrett
Purcell Room
More info for The Three Ayatollahs: An Unbreakable Dynasty?
William Dalrymple and Anita Anand in front of an ornate background.
Literature & poetry

The Three Ayatollahs: An Unbreakable Dynasty?

The hosts of Empire and one of Britain's foremost experts on Iran look at a nation at a crossroads
Purcell Room
More info for We Have Ways of Making You Talk
Two men in blue shirts sit in front of an antique-style world map showing transatlantic communication lines, with one man having his arms crossed.
Literature & poetry

We Have Ways of Making You Talk

Don’t miss the world’s biggest World War Two podcast as it hits the London stage for the first time
Purcell Room

View more events in What’s on

For your visit

Purcell Room Southbank Centre

The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.

A seat in the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall with a dedication affixed  to it

Play a part in every performance

Name a seat in our Purcell Room and help support the next generation of artists and musicians.

Find out how to name your seat

While you’re with us

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