Study for Astley's Theatre (recto); Study for Crystal Chadeliers in Astley's Amphiteatre (verso) c. 1808

Augustus Charles Pugin’s drawing “Study for Astley's Theatre” captures the interior of a grand amphitheater with delicate pencil strokes. The composition emphasizes height and depth, drawing the eye upward with tiered seating that curves towards a domed ceiling. A central chandelier dominates the space, its circular form echoing the shape of the arena below. Pugin's approach here relies on line and form to convey architectural structure, creating a sense of vastness within the confines of the paper. The drawing exemplifies structuralism in its reduction of complex spaces to fundamental shapes and their relationships. The perspective, though somewhat loose, invites the viewer to imagine the theater as a social space, a site of spectacle and communal experience. The circular layout promotes an inclusive gaze, dissolving the traditional hierarchy between performer and audience. This evokes the theories of Michel Foucault, in that the architecture subtly shapes behavior and social dynamics. The sketch is not merely a depiction of space, but also an exploration of how space influences social interactions.