Lights, camera, action—and toilets

Published: 4 August 2019
Reporter: Sandra Giorgetti

Matchstick Piehouse
Pleasance Islington exterior at night
Coronet interior Credit: David Jensen
King's Head - 3D visual of exterior of theatre
Bernie Grant Arts Centre - main house exterior

A further eleven theatres across London are benefitting from the Theatres Trust London Small Theatres Grants Scheme.

Changes in the scheme rules have opened up the eligibility criteria and Coronet Theatre, King’s Head Theatre, Matchstick Piehouse, Pentameters and 2Northdown have been able to apply for the first time.

Grants of up to £5,000 are offered for projects that improve facilities for audiences and artists. Tom Stickland, theatres adviser at the Theatres Trust, the national advisory public body for theatres, said of the scheme, “the eleven projects awarded funding this round really highlight the diversity and heritage of London’s small theatres—with widened eligibility criteria we are now able to support pub theatres that are stalwarts of their local communities and more exciting new spaces just beginning to establish a loyal following. The small theatres of London create a unique ecology that is central to what makes the city a global cultural capital and artists and audiences at these theatre deserve excellent facilities and experiences.”

The eleven theatres to be supported in this round are:

  • Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Haringey: £5,000 for security upgrades for this multi-space venue that supports culturally diverse artists and audiences in Tottenham and the wider area
  • Coronet Theatre, Kensington and Chelsea: £5,000 for the installation of an induction loop in this Grade II listed building, initially a playhouse then cinema
  • Geoffrey Whitworth Theatre, Bexley: £5,000 for urgent roof repairs and refurbishment of a damaged disabled toilet
  • Greenwich Theatre: £5,000 for the refurbishment of the studio space and dressing room in this Grade II listed venue, adapted from a Victorian Music Hall
  • King’s Head Theatre, Islington: £5,000 toward providing access facilities for a diverse range of practitioners and audiences in its new venue
  • Matchstick’s Piehouse, Lewisham: £5,000 for soundproofing and rigging alterations in this new railway arch theatre
  • Pentameters Theatre, Camden: £3,500 for urgent rewiring and electrical repairs that will allow the venue to continue to operate
  • The Playground Theatre, Kensington and Chelsea: £5,000 for auditorium improvements to this 200-seat venue converted from a bus depot
  • Pleasance, Islington: £5,000 for a low-carbon combined electric heating and cooling system in this ex-London General Omnibus factory wood store
  • Studio 3 Arts, Barking and Dagenham: up to £5,000 for the installation of a heating and cooling system for this black box theatre based in the middle of a housing estate
  • 2Northdown, Islington: £2,970 for a permanent stage in this 70-seat fringe comedy venue specialising in long-form comedy

Applications are welcomed for the next round of the London Small Theatres Grants Scheme. The deadline for applications is 12 noon on 13 January.

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