PRESS
RELEASE - 8 May 2012
End
of an era in Croydon?: the Warehouse Theatre South London's famous and highly respected Warehouse Theatre could well be about to turn out the lights and become dark after 35 years. Located close to East Croydon station, The Warehouse is well known and loved by many people including its 2,500 theatre members. Many well known artists including Cate Blanchett, Eddie Izzard, Ben Elton, Lenny Henry and Dawn French started their careers at the Warehouse, and many well known and innovative plays have been produced and performed at the Theatre. For the last 25 years, the Warehouse has also run the popular, well respected and unique International Playwriting Festival which has produced many plays and discovered a number of now famous playwrights, for instance Peter Moffatt and Kevin Hood. Its last Festival held earlier this year played to packed houses and demonstrated all that was exciting, and cutting edge about the Warehouse and the innovative approach developed by its Artistic Director Ted Craig, performed as ever in the intimate and friendly atmosphere of the old Victorian building in which The Warehouse Theatre is located. In addition to the Theatre providing opportunities for new writers and actors to develop their talents, the Warehouse has actively supported local communities and charities in Croydon and would be sadly missed by them all. The Theatre has worked with Croydon schools including the BRIT School and has always provided a friendly atmosphere in the bar and restaurant, open to the public whether or not they are attending one of the Theatre's performances. The Warehouse has always supported the youth of Croydon by providing opportunities and facilities to develop their skills which have been and are needed now more than ever as a result of the current social and economic climate. The
plight of The Warehouse has become critical following funding cuts by the Arts
Council and more recently by Croydon Council. As a result of Croydon Council's
recent decision not to provide the Theatre with further funding due to cut backs,
the Board had no option but to resolve at its meeting on 4th May to reluctantly
seek to place The Warehouse Theatre Company Ltd into Administration and appoint
Jeremy Frost and Patrick Wadsted to assist them. If these events cause the closure
of The Warehouse Theatre Croydon, London and the world of live innovative theatre
will sadly lose an important cultural asset which has an established reputation
and can never be replaced. The Board has also resolved to support an Appeal to save the Theatre, and members of the Theatre will be urgently considering how this will be launched. appeal page |