A much-loved community theater company could be forced to close after the council revealed plans to impose a 5,000 per cent rent increase on the venue. The company currently pays £1,500 a year to rent the premises but Brent Council is seeking to raise it to a staggering £75,000, an unaffordable move which the local MP has said “almost looks like victimisation” of council officers.
East Lane Theater Company (ELTC) has been staging plays in North London for more than 80 years. Since 1990 it has taken up permanent residence at the 75-seat East Lane Theater in the Vale Farm Sports Complex near Wembley Stadium.
The theater aims to stage around 16 productions a year, but its future has been thrown into doubt following news of the council’s demands. When asked if the company could afford the increase, its chairman, Danny Popkin, replied, “God no,” adding that unless the amount was greatly reduced, it would no longer be able to afford to use the premises.
He added: “For me it’s a hobby, one I’ve been involved in for 30 years, so I’ll miss it. For other people, they feel it’s absolutely necessary for their mental health and well-being to get out and meet like-minded people which does a similar thing (…) It is very difficult to put a non-monetary value on it.
In a letter addressed to the leader of Brent Council, Cllr Muhammed Butt, MP for Brent West, Barry Gardiner, said he was “genuinely shocked” by the proposed rent level. The council’s strategy says Brent is a borough where “culture is celebrated and vibrant”, but the MP warns this will not be achieved by “putting one of our most successful and long-standing amateur theaters into bankruptcy”.
The letter goes on to say: “I was genuinely shocked to read that the rent Brent Council proposed to charge had risen from £1,500 a year to £75,000 a year. I actually assumed this was a typographical error and asked if it would be £7,500 (…) An increase of 5,000 per cent is so obviously impossible for such a small amateur art group that it almost looks like a victimization of the policemen who suggested it.”
It adds: “I understand the extent of the council’s difficult financial position. However, forcing this much-loved art gallery to close will not solve these problems. As elected councilors, it is our job to represent small organizations like East Lane Theater Company who do so much good in community and enriches the artistic and cultural diversity of which Brent is so proud.”
He said: “I spent much of my youth learning my craft at my local theatre, the East Lane. The East Lane Theater is a cosy, inclusive and aspirational place, which spurred me on to explore the art of performing. It was no small matter for me to find my voice, both as an actor and ultimately as a person.”
He added: “East Lane was a beacon of creativity and community for me, at a time when I felt insecure and lost. Within its safe walls, and alongside its dedicated volunteers, I was nourished and supported. Both for public and amateur creatives , East Lane is a symbol of what a local performance space can achieve: togetherness, connection and, of course, the joy of live theatre.”
Isabelle Iny, who has been a regular visitor to the ELTC for nearly 40 years, praised the productions’ “high performance and variety” and has been “dismayed” by the threat of closure. She said: “These facilities encourage community relationships as well as supporting the mental health of the more vulnerable members of our community.”
An email sent by Cllr Butt to Danny claims the £75,000 figure is what council officers believe “can be achieved on the open market”, which is necessary to “continue to provide the services residents need and depend on” .
It adds: “The council has had its finances cut to the bone and we are now looking at a massive financial black hole (…) We are reviewing every lease we have with organizations that hold Brent properties. Everyone is going through the same thing. It would would be remiss of me and the council if we did not explore all avenues to ensure we realize the best for the council and its residents from every asset we have.”
ELTC say they are still trying to negotiate with the council but, if this fails, they will go to court in January to challenge the increase. Danny suggests the current rent is in line with similar places around London, but had initially discussed a much smaller increase to £2,300 a year.
Danny said: “I’m afraid they’re in money-grab mode and they’re going to try it in any shape or form until they’re proven wrong. Unfortunately, it could end up costing us a lot of money to do that and, even then we may not get the result we want. The court may turn around and say ‘it has to be £20,000’, but even that is prohibitive.”
Deputy leader and cabinet member for finance and resources, Cllr Mili Patel, said: “Under our new property strategy, we are reviewing leases that are about to expire so we can manage council-owned properties sustainably and at market rates.”
She added: “Councils across the country are facing unprecedented financial challenges, and Brent is no exception. We have to make some tough choices to protect the essential services that residents rely on. We recognize the historic value of the theater and discussions with the tenant. are ongoing to explore the possibility of a negotiated agreement.”
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