Photo: Gil Sans
These folks started a theater with no money and filled a gap in neighbors’ lives. “If you build it, they will come.”
A recent article at Arts Professional shows that money isn’t the only tool for getting things done. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Anthony Briggs writes about what happened after he agreed to join Peter Tate in implementing a dream of creating truly relevant theater in London.
“When Peter asked me to join him as Co-Artistic Director of The Playground Theatre in May last year, I had been looking for a new challenge. [The] Playground’s previous life as a developmental space intrigued me, and Peter and I shared a vision of bold, imaginative and highly theatrical new work, developed with the local community in Latimer Road.
“Within a few weeks of us joining forces, the fire swept through the nearby Grenfell Tower. The events of that night had a huge impact on our vision for the theatre and our role in the local community. It was immediately apparent that what was needed was a place where people could share stories and grieve, and also hope and aspire for a better future for our area.
“North Kensington is a postcode of extremes with huge wealth sitting next to appalling poverty. It also includes probably the broadest ethnic mix of people in the UK. Finding a way to appeal to all our residents would be a challenge.
“When we first walked around the space there were only wall lights, so the first thing was to raise the money to kit the venue out and turn it into something fully functioning. … At the same time as raising funds and getting the theatre up and running, we faced the challenge of raising awareness and attracting an audience. …
“Doing anything for the first time can be an anxious experience, so we do all we can to make people feel welcome. We regularly post on local social media boards and leaflet along Portobello Road. Slowly the word is getting out.
“Everyone has an opinion about what we should be doing and that can be tiring. But to be a community theatre you have to be part of that community and that means engaging in constant conversation, even if it isn’t what you want to hear. We are dedicated to reflecting the diversity of our community through the diversity of our programming. …
“We have established good relationships with a nearby secondary school, Kensington Aldridge Academy, which is on a temporary site while its main building is being repaired following the Grenfell Fire. … Another partner is Grief Encounter, a child bereavement charity that has been active in our area following the fire.”
Read more here about how this new group is making theater that is relevant to people’s lives and thereby filling a gap.
Thanks for sharing. I hope they will succeed to go on for years with what they started: It is a very inspiring way to develop the local community.
They knew they wanted to engage the community, but the Grenfell Tower fire created a situation where they clearly were needed.
It’s interesting how the fire focused them and served as a galvanizing influence.
I’ve been a huge fan of theater since childhood, but lately too much of it feels artificial. What this London theater is doing would probably feel real.