Coventry’s shop-front theatre to close after 13 years

Published: 4 July 2022
Reporter: Steve Orme

Coventry’s Shop Front Theatre Credit: Andy Moore
A post-show discussion featuring Julia Negus and Chris O’Connell Credit: Andy Moore

What is believed to be the only professional shop-front theatre in the UK is to close in November 2022 after 13 years.

Theatre Absolute has run the Shop Front Theatre in Coventry’s City Arcade since 2009. But it will be demolished in 2023 as part of a redevelopment of the south of the city centre.

Theatre Absolute’s artistic directors Chris O’Connell and Julia Negus created a non-traditional theatre space after being inspired by a model in Chicago which encouraged audiences to enter a space and meet artists as equals.

O’Connell explained, “the initial idea was to challenge ourselves as theatre makers, taking away everything theatre often relies on and keeping only what is essential to tell great stories—a space and actors.

“We wanted people to feel welcome and be able to create and contribute, not simply consume what was being offered. What started as an opportunity for us became a way of making opportunities for others.”

The theatre is based in a unit previously occupied by a fish and chip shop. Theatre Absolute produced new shows as well as commissioning and supporting emerging and established writers.

In 2021, the theatre was recognised by the Writers Guild of Great Britain which awarded it an Olwen Wymark Award for exceptional encouragement of theatre writing.

Negus added, “the Shop Front Theatre offered a really versatile space, not just for us but for many organisations and groups who took ownership.

“There’ve been many highlights over the past 13 years, one being the Shop Front Festival in 2018 which embraced the concept of making theatre in shops. Over one weekend we programmed live performances into 38 retail shops, collaborating with city-centre businesses to host numerous UK and international artists and performers.”

City Arcade will be demolished in 2023. O’Connell commented, “it will be immensely sad to see the space and the Arcade go. It’s been a brilliant home for independents. But we’d already decided that Theatre Absolute’s future lay in progressing our work in other ways and we’re excited to start exploring that.”

Negus added, “we must never stop trusting and encouraging local artists to create new work that has a relevance to a place and its community. Our own work will continue here until November. We have writing residencies and theatre labs, offering space and development time.

“And we’ve a celebratory weekend planned on 4 and 5 November when everyone can gather to reflect on all the brilliant events that have happened here during our time in City Arcade. It’s been an amazing achievement.”

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