This week saw leading artists from all fields join the celebrations for the 35th birthday of London's Barbican Centre.
Representatives from the theatre industry included Benedict Cumberbatch, Jude Law and Fiona Shaw.
The Barbican has been home to music, theatre, dance, visual arts and film events over its 35 years and it also runs a creative learning programme.
To mark its 35 years, the Barbican has launched a digital collection of 35 of its cultural ‘Firsts’ accompanied by a short essay from Cerys Matthews on the power of art. The Firsts include the world première of Les Misérables in 1985.
Sir Nicholas Kenyon, managing director of the Barbican, said, “thanks to the generosity of the City of London Corporation and the vision of our leadership, the Barbican has had a remarkable sustained history of continuing innovation.
"These 35 'firsts', chosen from so many over the 35 years of our programme, show how the Barbican has always been pushing the art-forms forwards—and continues to do so today. From Richard Mosse's Incoming to Jean-Michel Basquiat, Simon Rattle and the LSO, Toneelgroep and Jude Law, we celebrate the very best adventurous, distinctive work in the arts. Here's to the next 35 years!”
The world première of Obsession starring Jude Law and directed by Ivo van Hove takes place later this spring.
The Barbican Centre was designed in the Brutalist style by architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon; it has been given Grade II listing and has been voted "London's ugliest building".