About

Streatham has a long history in theatre and entertainment and was known as “the West End of South London” – and due to the wealth of talent living in the area – as “The Beverly Hills of London”. Arts and cultural activity of all kinds continues in modern day Streatham.

Over 90 years ago Evelyn Laye laid the foundation stone for the Streatham Hill Playhouse (as it was originally to be known) in Streatham Hill, South London.

Streatham Hill Theatre (SHT) was opened in November 1929. It was bombed in WW2 but was rebuilt and reopened in 1950. It is a significant (PDF) building due to its architecture, heritage and potential. During its time, many of the stars of the day, and many famous companies, appeared there.

It closed to theatre in 1962, becoming a bingo hall. Much of the original theatre and its equipment remain. Small scale theatre returned via Streatham Theatre Company from 2013 to 2016. Bingo ceased in 2017.

The theatre was granted a Grade 2 listing in 1994 as “an unusually lavish example of a theatre built in the short-lived revival of building in 1929-30; as a suburban example of this date the building may be unique”.

In 2018 the theatre was added to the Theatres Trust’s Theatres at Risk register, where it remains.

Also in 2018, Lambeth Council approved (PDF) our nomination (PDF) of Streatham Hill Theatre as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), confirmed (PDF) in early 2019 after a review requested (PDF) by the owners and our flashmob demonstration. This gives the community a chance to acquire the property should the owners want to sell. Lambeth’s list of ACVs is here (PDF); the theatre is listed under reference SL/MGCR2B/049. The original ACV expired in July 2023 and The Friends applied for a second term, which was approved by Lambeth in December 2023.

In 2021, Historic England added the Theatre to its Heritage at Risk register. It is also on the Art Deco Society‘s Heritage at Risk list.

And in 2022, Save Britain’s Heritage added it to their Buildings at Risk register. Our Statement of Heritage Risk collates the at-risk information to date.

The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre (FoSHT) would like to see the theatre returned to arts, culture and performance use to further the social well-being and social interest of the community. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity – and maybe the very last chance – to revive the Streatham Hill Theatre building for the benefit of the community. Our crowd-funded Viability Study shows how this might be achieved.

The Friends have no access or control of the building, which is currently only partially in use, as a slot machine lounge by Merkur (part of the Gauselmann Group, who rebranded as Merkur Group in January 2024) who hold a sub-lease from head leaseholders Mecca (who are part of Rank Group plc) – these leases expire in 2028. The freeholders were Poll Mount Ltd until May 2022, when it was sold to new owners Hold Land South East Ltd. It was then subsequently sold on to Ruach City Church in July 2022 in order to relocate their Brixton church. We understand the leases will have been amended as a result of that sale.

The building remains classified by the Valuation Office Agency as a Bingo Hall (SCAT 025S) for business rating purposes – this is a sui generis Use Class. The Lambeth property database shows more information about the building’s planning and licencing history. Some historic planning applications are included in this PDF for all of Streatham Hill (even numbers). The Gambling Commission lists a bingo licence for the premises.

The building would make a great creative hub for Streatham’s art and cultural community and a base for developing artists and organisations. Where people can participate, meet and network…

If you agree and would like to support this aim, please sign up to our mailing list which will serve as our membership list and as a petition calling for our objectives to be addressed by all relevant parties. You can also support us in other ways.

The Streatham Investment and Growth Strategy 2019-30 (PDF) sets out plans to explore opportunities for the theatre as part of a wider regeneration strategy for Streatham that aims to: challenge perceptions and attract inward Investment to Streatham; diversify the town centre economy; provide space for growth and enterprise; improve the resident and visitor experience; and progress development opportunities. It states that “Successfully restoring this building would bring significant improvements to the public realm and historic/cultural fabric of the area, as well as delivering against a number of other objectives presented in this strategy (e.g. Strengthening and Diversifying the Town Centre).”

The 2020-2035 Lambeth Local Plan (PDF) states: “The former Streatham Hill theatre is Grade II listed and provides a transformative opportunity to provide a major leisure and entertainment venue with the potential for workspace for creative, digital and cultural industries.” The council and councillors have stated publicly that they will support its regeneration to become a major leisure and entertainment venue alongside workspace for creative and cultural industries.

In February 2021, The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre, originally an unincorporated association became registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and a Registered Charity. Our objects are:

(a) To protect, preserve and restore for the benefit of the people of Streatham, of South London, and of the nation at large, the building known as Streatham Hill Theatre and situated in Streatham Hill, London SW2, its historical, architectural and constructional features, and its environs;

(b) To promote, maintain, improve, assist and advance public access, participation, appreciation and understanding in all aspects of the arts and culture including (but not limited to) design, architecture, drama, theatre, poetry, the spoken word, literature, mime, circus, magic, opera, music, dance, singing, art, photography and cinematography.

Check out our FAQs (PDF) for some more.

Find out more about the theatre here:

• Theatre Timeline
• Historical Significance
• Risk to Heritage
• Who performed there
• Arthur Lloyd: the Theatre and the opening
• Cinema Treasures
• British Listed Buildings
• Historic England Listed Buildings, their Heritage at Risk register and in their Archive
• The Theatres Trust and their At Risk Register entry
• Nigel The Dame’s blog
• WikiPedia
• Our photos and videos
• The V&A archive and collections
• Mo Malik’s enhanced photos
• Google Earth
• The Streatham Society publish a book by John Cresswell about the theatre. His research papers are held under ref “SpW/1” in the RIBA catalogue.
• Our other resources