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We are pleased to launch our new colouring book is available to download and print. With a range of Streatham Hill Theatre images and programme covers for you or your kids to colour in. There’s a range of difficulty to suit all ages, so you can print the pages you need.
Why not send us a photo of your efforts?
Whether you are a sitting councillor standing for re-election, or a candidate standing for the first time, you are surely aware of The Friend’s campaign to save the grand-scale Streatham Hill Theatre for the benefit of the community. As the current owners of the property seek to convert it to a place of worship, we call on you to support the campaign to get all stakeholders together to create the right solution for all.
Some history
The beautiful theatre was built in 1928-9 on a scale similar to the London Palladium with a capacity of around 2,800 (and said then to be the fourth largest theatre in London, and probably still is). The design was by the great theatre architect, WGR Sprague, his last and largest theatre. It served the community, bringing west end shows and famous names to Streatham until 1962, when Mecca launched its flagship bingo and social club there. Bingo survived under various operators until 2017 when the operators closed the main auditorium and continued with only a small part of the building in use.
Campaign
The campaign has the support of the local community, cross-party support from local councillors and our local MP, and support from our high-profile patrons and creative industry supporters, many of whom have local connections.
Since bingo closed on 2017, we have drastically increased the awareness of this great resource, previously sitting largely un-noticed in Streatham Hill, and promoted its rejuvenation to help the local community and the local economy. Working with Lambeth, Theatres Trust and Historic England amongst others, the theatre has been recognised
Opportunity
There is a well-funded professional theatre operator led by award winning Thom Southerland who see the great opportunity to create a flagship art institution at Streatham Hill Theatre, developing work of international importance, while engaging fully with the local community.
Though Thom tried to acquire the theatre from reluctant owners over a long period, he ultimately lost out to a property company in May 2022 who quickly sold on at a large profit to the current owners Ruach City Church in July 2022. Thom has repeatedly attempted to engage Ruach in discussions about an arrangement to, for example share use of the theatre with the church in a similar way to other theatres like the Dominion in Tottenham Court Road. The status of any discussions or negotiations is unclear.
Planning Issues
Since Ruach acquired the building, it was kept empty for a couple of years, then building works and church services started, but without planning permission. Lambeth asked Ruach to present a planning application – their first attempt was rejected but a second attempt has been with planning since May 2025. The application calls for change of use to a place of worship, but this is contrary to several Lambeth and GLA policies protecting entertainment venues from loss. The Friends and many other individuals and organisations including Theatres Trust, have submitted objections to the planning application, and it is still awaiting officer recommendations. It is unlikely to go the Planning Committee until early summer.
A win-win way forward
The Friends believe that a way forward which will benefit Ruach and the community is for all stakeholders to encourage an agreement between Ruach and Thom Southerland for shared use as a commercial theatre, supporting community arts and a church. We have asked Ruach to withdraw their current application, which would not allow shared use, and work with Thom on a way forward. Thom has the funds to open and renovate the building, bringing people to the area to see quality theatre, with community access and outreach. Ruach would continue to use the building, which would be renovated and maintained and receive income.
Call for action
Please show your support in your campaigning and then, when you take your seat, please continue to support the best result for Streatham Hill Theatre as part of Lambeth council.
We have our next online meeting on Wednesday 20th May 2026 at 8pm. Please register via our events page.
We’ll be discussing the campaign and the ongoing planning application.
We thank Caroline Findlay for donating programmes found when clearing her parents’ house. These will be added to our archive.
The Friends of Streatham Common have announced that Kite Day is back this year on 10th May.
The Friends plan to be there, sharing a stall with other theatre related organisations – Streatham Theatre Company & Streatham Arts Community – so please come and look for us at the bottom of Streatham Common.
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This year’s 50th Olivier Awards 2026, along with sponsors Cunard, have launched a national “Love Your Local Theatre” campaign. There is a nationwide social media drive inviting people to share what their local theatre means to them. Participants are encouraged to post a video, image or graphic celebrating their chosen venue.
The Olivier Awards will also see past winners and nominees recognise the local venues that first inspired them and nurtured their talent. By celebrating these formative connections, Love Your Local Theatre will emphasise the importance of theatres across the breadth of the UK in developing world-class creatives and sustaining the wider theatre ecosystem. https://solt.co.uk/olivier-awards-2026-love-your-local-theatre/
The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre would like to take part in this social media campaign, and we are calling on our supporters to add their own personal messages through social media. Your messages supporting our campaign to rejuvenate Streatham Hill Theatre will show how we would love it to be our own local theatre once again.
You could refer to
Messages should include the #LoveYourLocalTheatre and #StreathamHillTheatre hashtags, and an appropriate image or video if possible. We will also use your messages in our campaign and add any memories of the theatre to our archives.
As a bonus, each eligible post will be entered into Cunard’s prize draw, with one winner receiving an unforgettable theatre experience of two tickets to the Olivier Awards 2026 with Cunard, a two-night stay at The May Fair Hotel, and £500 in Theatre Tokens to spend at one of 300+ theatres nationwide. The prize draw is open until 11.59pm on Thursday 5 March. https://officiallondontheatre.com/webforms/love-your-local-theatre/
The Olivier Awards ceremony itself is on 12th April at the Royal Albert Hall.
Thanks very much for your help and support; let’s hope this helps raise the profile of the theatre while it is at risk of loss through planning changes.
Questions asked by a Streatham Hill resident have been put to Council officers by Streatham Hill West & Thornton Ward Cllr Donna Harris as a ‘Members Enquiry’:
“Ruach City Church’s planning application for Change of Use of the Streatham Hill Theatre to a place of worship was published at the Planning Portal for comment on the 1st May 2025. Eight and a half months have now passed. Please explain the reason for the delay and advise when this application is expected to go before the PAC [Planning Applications Committee]. Residents opposing this application are understandably concerned and asking to be updated.
Also, the building has been opened for use by the public since the end of June 2024 without planning consent, and without correct safety measures such as preventing the use of the front row of the circle due to its inadequate hand rails. Various works have been undertaken, most recently some electrical works including fixing cables to internal walls, and running cables through new holes in internal masonry. There has also been some interference with the external foundation stone-laying plaque leaving it unsecured and at risk of being removed from the wall and stolen. Has there been any investigation into all the various works and is there planning approval or listed building consent for them? Have the owners been made aware that carrying out unauthorised works to a listed building is a criminal offence and can result in prosecution?”
Members Enquiry response from Council officers:
Ruach City Church
“Apologies for the delay you have experienced in receiving a response to your Members Enquiry on the 21st January.
As you can appreciate, due to the complexity of the submission, the assessment of the application at Streatham Hill Theatre remains ongoing. Once officers can make a recommendation, it will be determined whether the application should be referred to the Planning Applications Committee (PAC). At this stage, it is anticipated that the application may be presented to PAC members in late spring or early summer.
As you may also be aware, the site is currently subject to an active enforcement investigation. This relates to both the existing use of the premises and any works that may have been carried out or are continuing to take place.
Regarding your constituents’ concerns about internal and external alterations, some matters may fall within the remit of Building Control, and these will be discussed with the relevant officers. Any alterations affecting the fabric of the listed building will be raised with the planning agent while the application remains under consideration. Officers have already requested further supporting information on several issues, including noise and community uses, and this will form part of the ongoing assessment.”
The Winter 2025-26 edition of Streatham Society‘s News Magazine has a feature on the history of Streatham Hill Theatre with photos, plus a review of the recent concert by Brixton Chamber Orchestra.
The society publishes online copies of its newsletters once they have been read by members.
Benefact Group are running a series of charity prize draws in 2026 and you can nominate The Friends for a chance to win £1000 to help the campaign.
Just go to the website, search for “The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre” and nominate us!
You can also nominate other charities, but it’s a maximum of one nomination per charity per person.
The first 100 winning charities will be drawn between 23rd – 27th March 2026. Other draws will take place in September and December.
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The Theatres Trust has highlighted that key proposed amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) would significantly weaken the protection for theatres in the planning system. Considered alongside the proposal to remove Theatres Trust as a statutory consultee, there could be serious consequences for cultural infrastructure in England if these amendments are adopted.
They note:
The section on “Retention of key community facilities and public service infrastructure” (HC6) is now weaker than many local plans and the existing NPPF – and crucially does not include cultural buildings in the list of uses to which the policy explicitly applies.
This omission could be an oversight, but just as troubling is that the protection policy only applies where a building is the last of its type in its local area. So, if there is another theatre in your area, your building would not be protected. It wouldn’t matter that you operate at different scales, have a completely different programme or serve different audiences.
The Government is holding a public consultation open until 10 March 2026. The Friends have commented on the proposals and it would be good if many others did too. Please make your own comments and spread the word.
There is guidance on the Theatres Trust website.
The Theatres Trust is supporting the Friends in our campaign to save Streatham Hill Theatre.
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