Streatham Hill Theatre

Former Streatham Hill Theatre
Located atLondon Borough of Lambeth 
Street address110 Streatham Hill, London, Lambeth, SW2 4RD, England 
Coordinates51°26′26″N 0°07′33″W / 51.4405°N 0.1259°W / 51.4405; -0.1259
Heritage designationGrade II listed building 
CountryUnited Kingdom 
Websitewww.streathamhilltheatre.org

Streatham Hill Theatre is a historic theatre in Lambeth, England. It was built in 1928–29 and was the last theatre designed by W. G. R. Sprague.[1]

Opening in 1929, it staged theatre, opera, ballet and variety until 1962, apart from a period between 1944 and 1950 when it was closed due to bomb damage. The venue operated as a sister-theatre to Golders Green Hippodrome.[2]

In 1962 it closed to theatre, reopening as a Mecca bingo hall. Bingo continued under several operators until 2017.

It was Grade II listed in 1994 as "an unusually lavish example of a theatre built in the short-lived revival of building in 1929–30; as a suburban example of this date the building may be unique."[3]

The building was added to the Theatre's Trust Theatres at Risk register in 2018.[4]

Also in 2018, London Borough of Lambeth granted Asset of Community Value status to the theatre,[5] renewing it in 2023.[6]

Since 2018, the building remains out of use, apart from a small slot machine lounge, and there is a campaign to save the theatre for the community, led by the Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre.[7]

In 2021, Historic England added the theatre to its Heritage at Risk register.[8]

In June 2022, SAVE Britain's Heritage added the theatre to its Buildings at Risk register.[9]

In 2022, the building's freehold was sold twice, first in May to a property company, then in July to a large church, who are intending to relocate from their current premises in Brixton[10] slot machine operation continues behind part of the foyer, but the rest of the building was left empty[11] until the church opened for services on 30th June 2024.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Streatham Hill Theatre - Theatres Trust". database.theatrestrust.org.uk.
  2. ^ Cresswell, John (2000). The Streatham Hill Theatre: The story of a suburban theatre. UK: The Streatham Society. ISBN 0950443166.
  3. ^ England, Historic. "STREATHAM HILL THEATRE, Lambeth - 1244564 - Historic England". historicengland.org.uk.
  4. ^ "Streatham Hill Theatre". Theatres Trust.
  5. ^ "ASSETS OF COMMUNITY VALUE-LIST OF SUCCESSFUL NOMINATIONS" (PDF). www.lambeth.gov.uk. 2018.
  6. ^ "Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre".
  7. ^ "Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre".
  8. ^ "Heritage at Risk in England Revealed | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  9. ^ "SAVE Me - I'm Yours! New Entries List in full". www.savebritainsheritage.org. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  10. ^ https://www.thepinknews.com/2010/05/28/pentecostal-church-leader-refutes-allegations-of-homophobia/
  11. ^ The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre. "Blog". The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  12. ^ The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre. "Blog". The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre.