Many people across west London were delighted when Hillingdon Council announced on Friday (December 13) that Parkwood Theaters would take over the running of the Beck Theatre, preventing it from closing in January. It ended a three-month saga and secured the future of the much-loved site, after a campaign to save premises in the town gave weight to the local Back the Beck campaign.
The new operator is a well-established theater company that operates four venues including Crawley’s Hawth Theater in West Sussex. Below, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) looks back at a timeline of events and charts the turbulent period that left the future of the theater uncertain.
Disagreement about costs and subsidies
On 18 September, the current operators, Trafalgar Entertainment, revealed that the theater was at risk of closure as Hillingdon Council had failed to extend their contract within an appropriate timeframe. Steve Sargeant, the theater manager, said the council had been unable to provide any clarity on alternative operation of the Beck, so there were fears it could close.
Hillingdon Council hit back, arguing that Trafalgar, which had been given a subsidized rent-free contract, should have to pay for their use of the theatre. The council said that as the operators were a for-profit business, the council should not have to subsidize their costs.
LDRS understood that this was not just about operating on a rent-free basis, but that Trafalgar believed the council would have to pay for the upkeep of the site. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell described the threat of closure as “an act of cultural vandalism”.
The “Back the Beck” campaign.
The ‘Back the Beck’ campaign was key to mobilizing a community of theatergoers from across London and the country. The group held its first public demonstration on 29 September outside Uxbridge tube station.
An online petition was widely supported and received thousands of signatures in a matter of days. Both sides continued to blame each other for the threat of closure, with Trafalgar claiming it agreed to operate without financial support on trial for three years – removing any claim to subsidy.
Hours after that statement was published, Hillingdon Council Leader Ian Edwards said it was “with great regret” that Trafalgar was to cease operations at the Beck, before revealing there had been discussions to build a new modern theater at the Beck with Trafalgar at the helm.
However, a spokesperson for Hillingdon Council clarified to LDRS that this was a “proposal in a one-off conversation in 2021 that never really progressed into costing” before retracting the comment hours later. A second round of protests was then announced by the ‘Back the Beck’ campaign to coincide with the meeting of Hillingdon Council’s cabinet on 10 October.
Trafalgar returns to the negotiations before walking away a second time
Less than 24 hours after the second demonstration, Hillingdon Council revealed that Trafalgar had walked away from discussions for a second time, accusing the operators of changing their demands and asking for a rent-free deal with a “substantial subsidy”. Both parties had been negotiating behind closed doors before this.
The council went on to say: “They also sought the option to walk away from a three-year deal, with rolling standstill clauses, despite originally wanting more certainty of continued operation. Basically, this would not have ensured any long-term stability for the operation of the facility which is the Council’s top priority.”
Trafalgar Entertainment quickly hit back, accusing the council of walking out of negotiations. They said: “LBH (London Borough of Hillingdon) asked us to assess the level of financial support that would be required to prevent us being in a loss-making position on the Beck next year. We presented that position to LBH and it was rejected. The option they presented this week was not feasible.
They went on to accuse council officers of “unprofessional and, frankly, intimidating” behavior at a meeting between the two parties. They believed that the council and individual officials failed to understand the gravity of the situation facing the theatre, describing their attitude as “one of contempt”.
Following the uncertainty of possible closure, acts such as Strictly stars Giovanni Pernice and Anton du Beke began canceling their shows at the arena.
The council reveals the theater will close in January 2025
Throughout the debacle, Hillingdon Council insisted they were committed to keeping the theater open, but on 31 October they revealed the Beck would close in the New Year.
In a statement they said: “The council had sought to negotiate a new lease with Trafalgar Theaters to enable them to continue their management of the facility at a peppercorn rent with the council responsible for necessary repairs and maintenance. Trafalgar has insisted that, in addition to paying council a running contribution.”
This led to a third round of protests from the Back the Beck campaign and an urgent question from Uxbridge MP Danny Beales in the House of Commons. Later in the statement, the municipality explained that it had engaged external consultants to support the procurement of a long-term operator for the theatre.
LBH accuses Trafalgar of ‘deliberately operating at a loss’
Interested parties visited the Beck Theater site in Hayes on November 20 to meet with consultants and Hillingdon Council’s deputy leader, councilor Jonathan Bianco. Representatives from six potential operators explored the site and engaged in discussions with the deputy leader and council officers about what needed to happen over the following weeks.
A week later, Cllr Bianco accused Trafalgar Entertainment of purposefully running the theater at a loss to gain financial subsidies. He also confirmed around this time claims that the council had blueprints of residential areas on the Beckteatern site.
However, at a council meeting on November 28, Cllr Bianco revealed that a feasibility study “which included some master plans and high-level drawings was being prepared in early 2023 as part of wider work looking at the surrounding area”. He added: “However, I can also confirm that the site was unsuitable for housing from a planning perspective as it is regarded as open space and that if housing was allowed it would only have been on a small scale which makes it unsuitable.”
Beck Theater bailed out with Parkwood Theaters taking over
On Friday (December 13), Hillingdon Council announced a 15-year deal with Parkwood Theatres, with an option to extend the deal by 10 years. As part of the selection process, Parkwood Theaters were nominated for how they aligned with the council’s priority objectives to “maintain the Beck Theatre’s cultural identity, deliver a financially sustainable model without the need for public subsidy and increase community engagement and participation through diverse programming”.
Parkwood Theaters operates four venues across the UK. These are: The Castle Theater in Wellingborough, The Hazlitt Theater in Maidstone, The Playhouse in Weston-Super-Mare and The Hawth in Crawley.
Tony Doherty, chief executive of Parkwood Theatres, said: “We are delighted to be working with Hillingdon Council to secure a long-term future for the Beck Theater and look forward to preserving its heritage while bringing new and exciting opportunities to the stage. commitment is to make this place a vibrant hub for creativity, community and unforgettable performances.”
The council says the transition from Trafalgar to Parkwood is expected to be “seamless” in the coming weeks.
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