The Phoenix Arts Club, a cornerstone of London’s independent theatre scene for over 30 years, has launched a Crowdfunder campaign to raise £125,000 to secure its future operations in 2025. This renowned venue, now operating as a Community Interest Company (CIC), continues to champion creativity, community, and fair pay for artists.
Welcoming over 100,000 guests annually, The Phoenix Arts Club has hosted almost 1,000 shows in the past year alone and paid over £3 million to creative practitioners in the last five years. Despite successfully recovering from the pandemic and scaling its audio-visual capabilities with an Arts Council England grant, the venue now faces financial challenges due to rising operational costs and the lack of ongoing funding commitments.
Why Support The Phoenix Arts Club?
- Protecting a vital space for theatre-makers, cabaret artists, and the creative community.
- Ensuring artists are paid a fair wage, with revenue directly supporting performers. Over the last five years, more than £3 million has been paid to creative practitioners, with the venue proudly maintaining its status as a London Living Wage Employer.
- Expanding community initiatives by offering a platform for emerging talent and theatre professionals. In 2025, the goal is to develop 10 new works of theatre, providing paid research and development time, as well as directorial, marketing, and producing support, culminating in live showcases within the venue.
- Investing in the venue to maintain a welcoming and creative space, including upgrades to staging, the installation of a baby grand piano, and the purchase of theatre-specific headset microphones.
2024 was a landmark year for The Phoenix Arts Club, featuring hit productions such as Spring Awakening, RENT, and Title of Show, which later transferred to Southwark Playhouse. The club also hosted international stars like Tituss Burgess, Scissor Sisters, and Laura Mvula, alongside rising talents like Henry Calvert and Emily Kitsch. Cabaret highlights included performances by Sarah-Louise Young, Marcel Lucont, and Joe Black, while comedy legends such as Kevin Bridges, Stephen Merchant, and Jack Dee tested new material on its iconic stage.
By contributing to this fundraiser, supporters will play a vital role in safeguarding the future of this iconic venue and the creative community it nurtures. Every penny raised will be reinvested into the club’s charitable work and its mission to provide a home for creativity in London’s West End.