It’s been a long time coming, but it’s very nearly show time for London‘s lively new entertainment venue, Soho Theatre Walthamstow. If that name sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because its older sister, Soho Theatre, has been successfully entertaining Londoners over on Dean Street for the past 25 years. But now its time for east London to be treated to a delicious slice of the action – and Walthamstow will be welcoming a shiny new theatre on May 2.
The Walthamstow venue will be pretty similar to its Soho sibling, hosting a jam-packed calendar of comedy, cabaret and theatre shows. The main difference is that it won’t be in Soho. Oh, and it will also be substantially larger – but more on that later.
You’re probably wondering where exactly in Walthamstow you can expect to find this exciting new spot once it opens. Well, you’ve certainly come to the right place to find out. Soho Theatre Walthamstow will occupy the Grade II* listed building that used to be home to the Granada Cinema. Having originally swung open its doors as a Victorian music hall, the building has had its fair share of fame over the years, with the likes of The Beatles, Dusty Springfield, and The Who all having played there. It became a beloved local cinema until 1973, but since then – aside from its fleeting stint as a cocktail bar and brief period as a place of worship – has been left empty. Until now.
The new theatre will feature a 960-seater auditoriumthree studio spaces and four bars (glad to see they have their priorities in order). This mighty restoration project has been in the pipeline since 2010 – but many years, a few delays, and £30 million later; Soho Theatre Walthamstow is finally set raise its curtain in May. And it’s ‘vibrant and eclectic’ opening programme of work has just been announced.
The programme will be kicked off with Natalie Palamides’ WEATHERfollowing the show’s smash-hit sell-out runs in Edinburgh and at Soho Theatre. Autobiographical theatre-maker, Bryony Kimmings, has also been commissioned to create a new show for the theatre, and there’s set to be an annual panto, too. Soho Theatre Walthamstow will host monthly comedy nights, featuring the likes of Sara Pascoe, Rosie Jones and Sindhu Vee, and is also aiming to run a variety of workshops to help nurture creative talent in the local area.
On the topic of the local area, Soho Theatre Walthamstow will be offering a whopping 15,000 discounted tickets during its first year. Those living, working, or studying in Waltham Forest will have the chance to snap up £15 tickets. The new space will present comedy on a scale that’s never been seen in the capital before. Not small and intimate like Soho Theatre, not bloody huge like the Hammersmith Apollo, but somewhere in the middle. Like the mummy bear of comedy venues. It certainly sounds just right to us.
Co-Executive Directors of Soho Theatre WalthamstowMark Godfrey and Sam Hansford, say, “We’re thrilled to be announcing Soho Theatre Walthamstow’s opening and first shows. Decades in the making, this iconic building with a remarkable history is reinvented as a fantastic new venue for the future, supporting culture-led growth and regeneration. None of this would be possible without the passionate grassroots campaign to save it, and the commitment of Waltham Forest Council to invest in it. We thank the very many people who have contributed to it and can’t wait to announce more and to welcome you in from May. ”
Find out more about Soho Theatre Walthamstow’s full opening programme, and book your tickets here.
