News and Events
Exclusive: Westminster rebuild hopes dashed again
11th Nov 2010
The central London theatre has been closed since 2002 when, following a fire, the building was demolished by its then owner with the intention of turning the majority of the site into flats. But, a council planning constraint meant that any redevelopment would have to include a replacement theatre.
For the last two years, theatre operator London Aloft has been working with the site�s current owner - property developer Yolanda Limited - to create a 350-seat main theatre and a secondary studio space on site.
Only a few weeks ago, it had been preparing to unveil the venue�s opening season. Gregory Thompson had been appointed artistic director, while Sean Foley and Steven Berkoff were lined up to become artistic associate and associate director respectively. The theatre was to open in spring 2012 with a one-man show about Kean, after whom the theatre would be renamed. There had also been plans to use the site as a London hub for transfers of regional productions.
However, when The Stage approached London Aloft director Stephen Mitchelson earlier this month to discuss details of the season, he said his company had been removed from the project.
He said: �I received an email from the developers [Yolanda Limited] telling me that London Aloft is no longer the preferred operator. My understanding is that this matter now has to go back to [Westminster planning] committee and the committee has to decide whether to accept that new proposal or not. Apart from that, I have no idea what is happening. So I can�t really comment more than that. We�re very disappointed, clearly.�
Westminster City Council confirmed that proposals for the building would go back to its planning committee. It said it did not have the power to prevent London Aloft being removed from the project, but added it would �make sure the [replacement] operator is a viable operator�.
The council spokesman said: �The council granted planning permission, subject to a legal agreement, for Westminster Theatre to be redeveloped in May 2009. The council is very keen to see the building put back into use as a theatre. We have been in negotiations with the developers about how these plans can be implemented. Following changes to the original Section 106 legal agreement, the amendments to the plans will be considered by the council�s planning committee again in coming weeks.�
The setback is the latest in a long line of problems the Westminster has faced since closing in 2002. Plans to create the UK�s first black-led theatre on the site collapsed in 2005 when Arts Council England removed �4 million of capital funding because of internal problems at theatre company Talawa, which was to run the venue.
Reopening plans remained in limbo until London Aloft came on board in 2008. Westminster council granted new planning permission for the site in May 2009 and an opening in 2010 was announced, but it soon became clear that building work had stalled with difficulties emerging around two stipulations in the original planning permission.
It had appeared that the final hurdles to reopening the theatre had been cleared, with London Aloft preparing to unveil its opening season, but the latest announcement has thrown the project back into a state of uncertainty.
Yolanda Limited�s representatives were unavailable for comment as The Stage went to press.
Source: The Stage
