News and Events
London�s Arts Theatre to face another overhaul
22nd Sep 2010
The tenant of the off-West End venue, Brasrat Ltd, must leave the premises by December 13 and claims that future productions booked at the theatre beyond this date, including the Christmas show Puss in Boots, now hang in the balance.
Brasrat leased the Arts Theatre from owners Consolidated St Giles LLPS for three years in November 2008. However, Consolidated has now put into action a three-month break clause in the contract to shorten the tenancy agreement, as it is legally entitled to do, because it says it is not happy with the way the theatre has been run.
Brasrat Ltd director Dominic Madden said the news is �extremely disappointing� for everyone involved with the venue. He said: �We have been doing our best to be an interesting environment, something slightly different to other West End theatres.
�Where we are in a difficult position, simply, is that the theatre has been operating successfully. That operation is now being brought to an end, so therefore the question needs to be raised as to why that is the case.�
In the long-term, Consolidated says it plans to redevelop 5-9 Great Newport Street, which includes the site of the Arts Theatre. Within the proposals are plans for a new Arts Theatre with up to 361 electrically-powered seats that could be raked or flattened to make the space more flexible.
Under the plans, the owners claim the new venue would also have improved access arrangements and a modern air conditioning system.
Richard Metcalfe, speaking on behalf of Consolidated, said: �We have taken the decision to call time on the relationship.
�We had hoped that the Brasrat theatre company could have joined us in the redevelopment, but this has just not worked out. We are keen to move on and ensure the long-term viability of a thriving theatre on this site.�
Metcalfe said that Consolidated is in advanced discussions with four theatre companies hoping to take a new lease for the theatre. He added that he would ask future tenants to consider staging the shows that have already been booked.
The Arts Theatre opened in 1927 as a private club where unlicensed plays could be shown. Its most famous production, the English premiere of Samuel Beckett�s Waiting for Godot, directed by Peter Hall, was staged in 1955.
It has been operated by a string of theatre managements since Edward Snape and his company Fiery Angel left the venue in 2005, when plans first emerged for a redevelopment of the site. Most recently, End of Pier Productions was brought in to oversee the management of the theatre in April of this year.
Source:The Stage
