Save Streatham Hill Theatre from change of use to a church
Campaign Meeting Wednesday 14th May 2025
We’ve added an extra online meeting on Wednesday 14th May 2025 at 8pm. Please register via our events page.
We’ll be discussing the campaign about the recent planning application.
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Change of Use for SHT to Church submitted
Ruach City Church have submitted their application for change of use of Streatham Hill Theatre to a place of worship (ref. 25/01141/FUL at Lambeth Planning. It’s arrived just in time for the bank holiday weekend, with the closure date for comments being 22nd May 2025.
The application notes that it is contrary to the policies of the adopted Lambeth Local Plan 2020-2035 (adopted 2021) in particular Policy ED13: Visitor attractions, leisure, arts and cultural uses which seeks to retain leisure operations within the borough.
We will now kick off our prepared response, and will circulate details of the application, and our case for you to also comment on the application – see our dedicated campaign page.
If you can make one of our online campaign meetings please join us on Zoom.
** Please also pass on this message to your friends and neighbours, your local community groups, on WhatsApp, Facebook/Instagram/Threads/BlueSky/X, and any other social media. Then please watch out for further campaign messages and pass them on too.
Together we can save Streatham Hill Theatre for the wider community – this should not be its Final Act! **
From our latest newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/8537dc49bc8c/fosht-news-may-2025
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MP supports theatre in Streatham
We thank our MP, Steve Reed OBE, MP who has written to Lambeth calling for support for theatre in Streatham. This is now even more vital, given that the other local studio theatre, Streatham Space Project, has closed, and Streatham Hill Theatre remains under threat from a planning application by the owners.
Campaign Meeting Wednesday 12th March 2025
Our online meeting will be on Wednesday 12th March 2025 at 8pm. Please register via our events page.
We’ll be discussing the latest developments at the theatre and next steps in the campaign. See our latest newsletter for more.
Theatres Trust says Streatham Hill still at risk
Back in 2017, the Theatres Trust added Streatham Hill Theatre to its “At Risk” register. Each year since, the theatre has remained on that list, and it has been confirmed today that it is still on this year’s list.
The theatre’s entry in the 2025 register is here. Our Statement of Heritage Significance gives much more information about the theatre’s importance. This is one of our range of publications about the theatre and our visions for its future.
Our campaign continues, to bring back the theatre to use for the benefit of the community.
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Ruach reveal two electrical fires at the Theatre 📺
A passer-by has told us “There is a total power outage to the building, Merkur slots closed and a sign on the door. No other lights on anywhere, the last time there was a single light in the foyer big now nothing at all. Strange the shop next door has power as do all other premises opposite etc.“
A major issue is that any pumps would no longer have been powered over the time of the outage, and therefore flooding/water damage in the basement could start to be an issue again.
The Bishop of Ruach gave an update on 2/2/2025 at the Kilburn location in this video. It appears they had two fires in electrical circuits relating to the use of temporary heaters. The power company UK Power were needed to make repairs, costing £140,000. The Bishop called for donations to cover the cost.
The Friends help Dunraven School’s Sixth Form Geography students with their ‘Regenerating Places’ studies
The friends were delighted to meet just before Xmas with Zoe Cranmer, the Head of Geography at Dunraven School, and a group of her A Level Geography students to talk about the history of the Streatham Hill Theatre and our campaign to bring it back to use as a performance space and creative hub for Streatham and South London. The students study ‘Regenerating Places’, and are currently doing an in-depth local study which includes the theatre as an example of how the functions of a place can change. The students are exploring why regeneration is needed, how it is managed and what makes it successful, and we’re extremely pleased to know that our campaign offers them a great live case study!
Campaign Meeting Wednesday 15th January 2025
Our online meeting will be on Wednesday 15th January 2025 at 8pm. Please register via our events page.
We’ll be discussing the latest developments at the theatre and next steps in the campaign. See our latest newsletter for more.
More Programmes Donated
We’ve had another kind donation of programmes from Catherine Bennett, collected by her mum who was born in 1933 and grew up on the Clapham Park Estate. She was a “scholarship girl” at St Martin-in-the Fields High School for girls in Tulse Hill, and used to go to SHT while at school, and later with her husband after marrying in 1956.
Thanks to Catherine for sending these to us.
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