To celebrate we have reprinted John Cresswell’s fascinating book The Streatham Hill Theatre: The story of a suburban theatre.
This issue is a facsimile of the original book published in 2000, using some original covers left over from the original print run. The number of copies is limited by the available covers. You can buy your own copy at our online shop.
If you didn’t look at the floor level it could still be a theatre. The seats of the dress circle and upper circle still in situ. The mouldings still etched out in gilt, somewhat faded, the columns and the boxes. The non-smoking area was on “the stage” with nailed down benches and tables in bright blue rather like a British Rail cafeteria. In fact, stage left was a café depicted by a neon sign, in case we hadn’t realised, selling sandwiches, soft drinks and even hot meals.
On stage right there was a row of one arm bandits where punters jammed in their one-pound coins in the interval. Some of the original doors remained at the back of the stage, and I imagined the corridors to the dressing rooms and wondered if they were still intact or cordoned off due to health and safety.
I gazed out from the stage, feeling the tears well up as I remembered my father Jack singing “I’ve got a Motto” in The Arcadians, with me watching him from the stalls on my birthday in 1956, and the cake I had backstage afterwards.
Somehow the birdie song was not appropriate. Did no one else feel this loss of theatre?
After the sale of the freehold of Streatham Hill Theatre to Ruach City Church, the leaseholders Merkur have been clearing out their bingo fittings, including external signage.
From Land Registry documents we understand that Merkur’s slot machine operation will remain in place on part of the ground floor, and that Mecca’s head lease has been terminated.
Ruach are expected to use the rest of the building for their own purposes, but may be open to sub-letting or hiring out parts.
Back in July 2022 we heard that the theatre freehold had been sold again, to Ruach City Church. Since then, we have held our AGM and Campaign meetings to update and discuss our plans. Ruach have been in touch with The Friends and some of us met with them recently. We have also been in touch with Lambeth officers and Councillors, Theatres Trust, and the theatre company who lost out on acquiring the building.
The campaign is continuing with the same aims, but now we are able to engage with the building owners, which was not happening before, and those owners want the building primarily as it is and not as a development opportunity.
Ruach plan to use the building for their own purposes, as a church and centre for their South London congregation, currently meeting in Brixton. The Brixton site has been sold to pay for the theatre, which they have apparently been interested in acquiring for many years. They tell us they love the theatre and want to keep the scale and décor for their new home. They have a larger Grade II* cinema in Kilburn which they converted to a church some years ago, which is likely to be a model for Streatham Hill.
Ruach have a target to bring the auditorium into use in the next two years, then continue to renovate the rest of the building. It’s early days and they will need to go through planning permission/change of use and listed building applications. It seems likely that they will aim to save the heritage of the building itself. It remains our aim to ensure its heritage as a theatre is preserved, its inherent capability for future use as a theatre is not disabled, and that capability is encompassed by any renovations.
The aforementioned theatre company have now been introduced to Ruach, and we obviously hope for a positive outcome from any talks between the two organisations.
Our campaign is still seeking community access to see and use the building in a meaningful way, alongside Ruach’s own uses, for arts/culture and community activity as outlined by our aims and vision.
In the short term we have asked Ruach if they might open up for Open House or the Streatham Festival this year, and if there might be opportunities to use the building while they are planning and designing their renovations.
We will continue to talk with Ruach, Lambeth and our Councillors, Theatres Trust etc. as Ruach go through that planning process to do all we possibly can to meet the campaign aims.
Jill Stanford is the daughter of Jack Stanford the Dancing Fool, who was an eccentric tap dancer mime artist.
She has wonderful memories of going to the Streatham Hill Theatre to see her father in a production of the Arcadians, which she recounts in this interview with our Memories project lead Stephanie Black. There’s a transcript available (PDF).
Christopher Hugh Kingdon, the grandson of Hugh Sewell Kingdon, who created the Theatre and the nearby Locarno, along with his family, visited Streatham Hill.
The Kingdon Family outside Streatham Hill Theatre
Our Memories project lead Stephanie Black asked Chris to tell us about his grandfather and his connection. There’s a transcript available too (PDF).
Our first AGM as a CIO and Charity was held on 13th July 2022. The minutes, reports and other documents are available here.
The meeting was followed by a regular campaign meeting, which focussed on the recent changes of ownership of the theatre freehold, and the likely implications to the campaign. It is early days, so we expect things to develop over the next few weeks and months. We will keep you updated through emails, social media and campaign meetings. Meanwhile, the campaign will continue researching the new owner’s plans, and preparing for potential planning applications, working with other key stakeholders.
We heard on 29th June that the theatre freehold was to be sold again, and this was confirmed on Friday 1st July. The property company Hold Land South East Ltd who recently bought the theatre for £2.76m as a medium to long term investment have sold the building on to Ruach City Church for £4m.
The church plan to use the theatre to relocate from their current Brixton Hill church – they announced the purchase at their gathering on Sunday 3rd July – you can see the video here.
Obviously this will affect the campaign! We will need to understand more about the circumstances, engage with the various organisations supporting the campaign, and reach out to Ruach to understand their plans and their implications.
Please do come along to our AGM where we can provide the latest information and talk about how we move forward.
David Harewood MBE and Jools Holland OBE DL have today become Patrons of The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre campaign to find a sustainable solution to the future of the building, and promote its return to use as an arts and culture venue for the community. Other Patrons of the campaign include: Baroness Floella Benjamin, DBE, DL, Samira Ahmed, and Sir Mark Rylance.
Also today, broadcast journalism students at the University of Westminster have published online a student documentary featuring Sherwood star, and campaign Patron, Robert Glenister, and others, covering the history of the Theatre, its importance, and the campaign to save it.
Responding to these announcements, David Harvey, Chair, The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre said “These developments demonstrate yet more recognition for the majestic Streatham Hill Theatre, its historic importance, and the breadth and depth of support in the community for the building to be rejuvenated for a future in arts and culture.”
Further statements: ‘The prospect of bringing back to life a theatre in South London, with a stage the equivalent size of the Palladium, is very exciting. My friend the late Chris Barber and his jazz band played there in the fifties, and it would be so wonderful to see the Streatham Hill Theatre filled with all kinds of music once again. I’m delighted to add my support to this important campaign to save it.” Jools Holland OBE DL, Pianist, Composer, Bandleader, Singer and Broadcaster
“Theatre and the Creative Arts are so important for people’s well-being, which is just one of the reasons I’m fully behind the Friends’ campaign to bring this very special building back to life as a beating heart for our wonderful Streatham community and beyond.” David Harewood MBE, Actor, Director, Presenter and Author
“If it can be preserved as a historical venue and as a performing venue as well, then, best of both worlds.” Robert Glenister, Actor
“With dazzlingly opulent interiors, this exceptional 1920s theatre is an important part of London’s rich cultural history. Remarkably little altered since it opened, it is well-suited to being brought back into use as a performance venue. SAVE Britain’s Heritage is today adding it to our Buildings at Risk Register as the theatre has lain largely disused for some time and is highly vulnerable to redevelopment. Fortunately, The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre have a vision to bring the theatre back into use for the community. SAVE wholeheartedly supports their initiative.” Henrietta Billings, Director, SAVE Britain’s Heritage
“The addition of the Streatham Hill Theatre to the Save Britain’s Heritage’s latest At Risk Register is a significant step in the ongoing efforts to protect this hidden gem in the heart of Streatham.
“Together with the Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre, Lambeth Council is committed to doing all we can to celebrate its rich history and safeguard its future.
“The campaign has captured everyone’s imagination in Streatham and beyond, and to have so many talented artists, actors and musicians backing the cause show the strength of feeling for this historic venue.” Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, Lambeth Council Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Leisure and Sport
“The stunning Streatham Hill Theatre has enormous potential to be restored to its former glory, and used once again as a centre for the arts and creativity.
“The Council should do everything possible to support The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre ensuring the site is designated as an Asset of Community Value way past its current end-date of July 2023, and to attract funding for the project. There is the opportunity for a cultural centre that would benefit all ages and all communities here in Lambeth.
“Meanwhile, preserving and renovating the theatre for future generations would draw more people to Streatham from all over London, helping to reinvent Europe’s longest high street.” Cllr Donna Harris, Councillor for Streatham Hill West & Thornton Ward and Group Leader, Lambeth Liberal Democrats
“Since we added Streatham Hill Theatre to our Theatres at Risk Register in 2017, we have been working with the Friends group and other interested parties to find a viable long-term use for this unique theatre. We are delighted to see that support for this cause is growing and we hope that together, Streatham Hill Theatre can be restored, reopened and returned to use as a valuable asset to its local community and high street.” Claire Appleby, Architecture Adviser, Theatres Trust
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