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We’re part of Streatham Festival 8-17 October 2021
We’re pleased to announce that we will be taking part in this year’s Streatham Festival.
Save Streatham Hill Theatre from change of use to a church
Memories from Canada
I have resided in Vancouver, Canada for 40+ years but visit UK (until COVID) twice a year to see family, friends and go to the beloved theatre.
My brother and I were brought up in Streatham/Norbury and I went to school at Streatham Hill High close to the theatre. I did not become an actor but worked behind the camera as a feature film Script Supervisor on major productions all over the world for 40 years fuelled by my love for theatre.
In the late 50s my mother took me to the Streatham Hill Theatre every Tuesday evening when it was cheap night and I made her wait with me at the stage door for me to collect autographs. I still have the small book in my possession, with Janette Scott, Margaret Rutherford, Dirk Bogarde, and many other autographs on the pages.
Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing.
Christine Wilson
More Theatre Programmes Donated
We have been sent a few old programmes from the theatre, in memory of Mr Victor and Mrs Winifred Ward who enjoyed a number of shows, including:
- Oklahoma
- Call Me Madam
- Zip Goes a Million
- South Pacific
- The Little Hut
- And So To Bed
These will join our growing archive of programmes from the theatre’s heydays.
Programme Seals
As a child I certainly went to the Streatham Hill Theatre to see pantomimes, but unfortunately I have no memories of going there. I do remember that the programmes (which I think cost 6d) were secured with a paper seal, which you broke to read the programme. All this was presumably to prevent people selling the programme: was it really justified? I think not.
Robert Holden
Supporting our Imaginarium at Streatham Festival 2021
The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre are really excited to launch a sponsorship opportunity for their ‘Imaginarium‘ project.
Taking place during the Streatham Festival, curated by leading venue design practice studio three sixty°, this project will allow the local community to dream of a big future for our forgotten venue.
We want all parts of the community to be able to take part, to help explore how a revitalised theatre might be used, and even look. We are particularly want to involve those who are marginalised, and might not normally have their views heard.
For that reason, we will not be charging entry to the Imaginarium, or to take part in its workshops.
We are therefore looking for Event Partners who share our goals to support us in delivering this project through sponsorship.
If community involvement in the future of our local area is important to you, your business and your local customers, please get in touch by email at community@streathamhilltheatre.org to discuss the different opportunities.
P.S. We are also looking for nominations for local community groups who would like to take part and tell us what they would like to see in the venue.
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Do you have memories of Streatham Hill Theatre?
The Friends would love to hear any personal memories you have relating to the theatre, which we can publish here on this website.
We are also interested in images and photos, videos, posters, programmes etc. relating to Streatham Hill Theatre to add to our growing archive.
Please get in touch by email or phone, or come to a campaign meeting.
Streatham Theatre Company’s blog has also been collecting memories of Streatham, including a number involving Streatham Hill Theatre.
The Streatham Astoria – a rival venue
The Astoria, a rival to Streatham Hill Theatre opened on Monday June 30th 1930 at 7.30 p.m. with the film Paris. It is currently a multi-screen Odeon.
Geoff Gill (Former Chief Technician) gives an overview of its history on the Odeon Cavalcade website http://www.mawgrim.co.uk/cavalcade/streatham.htm
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Letters to The Stage 27th May 2021: Let’s wake our ‘sleeping beauty’
Picking up on two articles in last week’s (May 20) issue (Editor’s View: ‘We should cherish the West End’s long-runners’, p6; David Benedict: ‘In the West End, size may be everything’, p7), can I throw another requirement in the mix: ‘position’, together with a radical suggestion, related to all these issues.
The Theatres Trust maintains a list of venues under threat, the issues concerning the threat to these theatres invariably being size, position and viable product flow.
One of the theatres in the current list is Streatham Hill Theatre, described on the Theatres Trust’s website as “a sleeping beauty”. It is, as anyone who has visited can attest, and is only a few hundred metres from the London South Circular and a little further from the Victoria underground line.
Why not transfer one of the current long-running West End musicals to south London’s very accessible Streatham Hill Theatre, where the show can continue, relieving a currently locked-out theatre by allowing it to stage new productions?
In south London, the arrival of a major proven tourist attraction would be a great ‘regenerator’ initiative, giving a fantastic theatre a new life while also bringing new life to local business, housing and work opportunities. The present owner, a large German leisure company, may even want to take a part in delivering this suggestion. Debate.
Roger Edwards
Trafalgar Entertainment’s planned new Olympia Theatre (Trafalgar to operate London’s largest new theatre in decades, May 20, p3) is probably the largest since the Streatham Hill Theatre was opened in 1929 with a capacity of around 2,800. The theatre is now no longer in use and there’s a campaign to reopen this ‘sleeping beauty’: see streathamhilltheatre.org for more.
David Harvey
Used with permission from the authors.
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The Friends AGM to be held online on 16th June 2021
NOTICE is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre will be held online at 8pm on Wednesday 16th June 2021.
This meeting will be held online. Please register at www.streathamhilltheatre.org/events to receive joining instructions. Registration will close 30 minutes prior to the meeting.
Note that this is the last AGM of The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre as an unincorporated association (under its original Constitution) as it has converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) as resolved at the AGM held in June 2020. The next AGM due in 2022 will be the first as a CIO, under its new Constitution.
Agenda
1. Apologies
2. Minutes of Last Meeting(c)
3. Receive reports from Chairman and Committee members(c)
4. Receive financial statements and report from the Treasurer(c)
5. Resolution(a):
That The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre (having previously resolved to become an incorporated charity through registration as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), and to adopt a new constitution based on Charity Commission’s model), shall confirm adoption of the CIO Constitution as approved by the Charity Commission(b).
6. Other business of The Friends
Notes
(a) Requires a two-thirds majority of voting Members present
(b) The CIO Constitution published here: http://resources.streathamhilltheatre.org/friends
(c) Minutes, reports and statements published here: http://resources.streathamhilltheatre.org/friends
(d) There is no election of officers or committee as the existing holders have become the initial CIO Trustees as resolved at the last AGM. There will be elections at the first AGM of the CIO in 2022.
Secretary, The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre
info@streathamhilltheatre.org
www.streathamhilltheatre.org
Registered office: 1b Sunnyhill Road, London, SW16 2UG
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Report says regenerating Streatham Hill Theatre can kickstart local high street revival
An independent study published today says that restoring the dormant historic building as a centre for arts and culture “could play a major role in leading the post-Covid high-street recovery, developing the 15-minute neighbourhood, increasing localised co-working opportunities and ultimately making a significant economic contribution to the regeneration of this part of London”.
The Viability Study and Economic Impact Assessment was carried out by a team led by renowned arts consultancy, FEI, and supported by the Mayor of London, Lambeth Council, the Theatres Trust and over 400 crowdfunded donations from the local community.
The Streatham Hill Theatre opened in 1929. Designed by eminent theatre architect W G R Sprague, it has a capacity of 2,800 and is on a similar scale to the London Palladium. It presented shows until 1962, and then became a bingo club until 2017. Apart from hosting a small slot machine lounge, the rest of the large Grade II listed building now remains inactive. It was added to the Theatres Trust’s Theatres at Risk Register in 2017 in recognition of its architectural significance and potential to return to community use.
The study says that the theatre has the potential to generate footfall, jobs and economic growth, adding over £70m to the local economy over 30 years. It identifies a broad range of economic and social benefits that restoring the theatre for arts and culture could bring. These include: fostering local creative enterprise; supporting the night-time economy; providing access to affordable workspaces; enhancing education and learning for children and young people; enhancing local quality of life and wellbeing; supporting moves in London to 15-minute neighbourhoods; and lowering potential carbon emissions by regenerating rather than redeveloping the site.
The study recommends a phased, incremental and collaborative approach, with the immediate focus on making meanwhile use of parts of the building. Following on from this, a ‘minimal refurbishment’ of the theatre could be implemented as a sustainable operating model in the medium term, while longer term plans are developed for full refurbishment and operation as a fully commercial theatre.
The study carried out extensive work on mapping competitors, audiences and users, financial and operating models, and an economic impact assessment. Its report (of which a summary is published today) makes clear there will be challenges to restoring the theatre, including uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and ownership issues. However, with the right circumstances, and a significant level of third-party capital investment in retro-fitting and refurbishment, the ongoing operation of the theatre as a leisure and entertainment venue promoting arts and culture, is a viable long-term proposition.
Responses to the Study:
“Time and again, it’s been demonstrated how arts and heritage can be a catalyst to regeneration. This study shows that here in Streatham it can be done, it should be done and it needs to be done, and quickly.”
David Harvey, Chair, The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre
“I’m so excited at the idea of the West End of South London coming back to life. The pandemic has made us all cherish our neighbourhood assets and think about them as community hubs for inclusive art and culture. As we’re all so much more conscious of celebrating our history, Streatham Hill Theatre feels like it’s been biding its time ready to spread its wings again. A phoenix rising.”
Samira Ahmed, Arts & News Presenter
and Theatres Trust Ambassador
“To dream, to imagine, to dare to hope that Streatham might once again have this beautiful theatre up and running – is like a breath of warm, exciting fresh air that could ignite the whole community with a sense of real future promise.”
Catherine Russell, Actress
“Looking at the viability details just makes you realise what a huge asset the theatre could become for the community as a whole. Brilliant.”
Robert Glenister, Actor
“I am so thrilled to read the unequivocal outcome of the Viability Study and Economic Impact Assessment. It is a vital catalyst project to regenerate Streatham, securing long term benefits for the community and businesses. By preserving such a spectacular Theatre and utmost example of Lambeth’s historical and cultural heritage, we build a brighter future for Streatham and South London.”
Renato Balsadonna, Opera and Symphonic Conductor
“Historically Lambeth has an established landmark of theatres and a community of dedicated theatre goers. The Council recognises this much-loved community asset that is the ‘Streatham Hill Theatre’ and fully supports the community’s commitment to deliver a diverse and much needed theatre at the heart of Streatham.”
Cllr Sonia Winifred, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Culture, Lambeth Council
“There is strong local support to regenerate this historic building and reintegrate it into the local community.
“Creating a local hub for culture, live arts and entertainment wouldn’t just enrich Streatham’s cultural offering, it would also bring important benefits to our local economy at a time when the High Street has taken an even deeper hit.”
Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Streatham
“Theatres Trust firmly believes that Streatham Hill Theatre can play a valuable role at the heart of its high street and are pleased to see this borne out by the results of the Viability Study, which we supported through our Theatres at Risk Capacity Building Programme. Returning empty theatres to use is often a long and difficult process, but as we have seen with other theatres we work with, the incremental approach suggested by this report is a practical achievable route to revival.”
Claire Appleby, Architecture Adviser, Theatres Trust
“Streatham’s long-term sustainability absolutely depends on the sort of intervention that the regeneration of Streatham Hill Theatre could bring. We need more diverse leisure provision, increased co-working opportunities and community spaces that can build on and enhance the local pride. The Streatham Hill Theatre is a beautiful and historical building that really could be the jewel in the crown of Streatham’s renaissance.”
Louise Abbotts, BID Manager,
InStreatham Business Improvement District (BID)
A statement of heritage significance is here.
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