About South London Theatre
Who are we?
The South London Theatre is a large, well-established, repertory-style non-professional theatre based in West Norwood, south east London and a member of the Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain. The theatre was founded in 1967 in an old Victorian fire station and has been thriving ever since. We operate as a members' club and are therefore always keen to attract new faces to our organisation.
We run two theatre spaces, called the Bell Theatre and Prompt Corner. The Bell Theatre is a traditional style proscenium arch theatre seating 96 and Prompt Corner is a flexible studio space seating between 30 and 60 people.
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What do we do?
Our aim is to produce 22 shows per year in the two theatre spaces and we are always on the lookout for new members to help us achieve this. We also aim to provide as much variety as possible, with shows ranging from Shakespeare and historical plays, to modern comedies and new writing, with the odd musical or pantomime in between.
All aspects of each production are run by the members themselves, so there is plenty of opportunity for everyone, not just on the stage, but behind the scenes, learning about lighting, sound, stage management and directing. There is also a need for members to man the box office, front of house and the members' club bar.
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What do you get?
Membership of the South London Theatre is £30 per annum (£15 concessions). This is a one-off fee to help us to keep operating and there are no other fees involved with productions. This entitles each member to a copy of our monthly magazine, with details of forthcoming productions, auditions that are being held, social events and all the club news. Membership also means that you can audition for any (or all!) the shows, to work in any other aspect on a production, whether that is sound, lighting, stage management or directing. It also means that you can attend the regular training sessions and workshops that we arrange, sometimes from the skills we have in-house and sometimes from very experienced people from the professional side of the business. All the facilities of our in-house members' club bar are also available, from simply enjoying a drink any evening of the week, or joining in the social events, ranging from quiz evenings to full-blown fancy dress parties.
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Group history
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Our Theatre, as you will probably have realised from a glance at the front elevation, is a converted Victorian fire station originally built in 1881. The conversion was designed by Owen Luder, later to become a controversial President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, when two local amateur theatre societies, the Proscenium Players from Sydenham and the Lambeth Players, joined together to find a new permanent home. Having found the old fire station / St Lukes Church Hall / warehouse / illegal boxing venue, and with the design complete, the members set about the alchemy of conversion with the sweat of brows and honest endeavour. With stage one complete - the basement clubroom - renewed enthusiasm saw the first night of The Alchemist by Ben Johnson in October 1967. Since then, and with Prompt Corner added in February 1975, over 600 plays have been presented, the majority of them by our own members. |
In 1975/6 we gained admission to the Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain, fulfilling their criteria of being solely in control of our building, leased from the London Borough of Lambeth (later to become a Grade II Listed building), and being recommended by two established member theatres. We have had Ann Mattey as the National Secretary of the LTG, Pip Piacentino as Assistant Editor of the yearbook, and our own President, John Anderson, was the Guild Chairman 1995-7.
We also, through John Anderson, have representation on the International Theatre Exchange which is the English arm of the International Amateur Theatre Association - a worldwide organisation and, as Honorary Secretary, he is very much concerned with the Central Council for Amateur Theatre.
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How to find us
South London Theatre is situated in the heart of West Norwood just three minutes walk from West Norwood BR where fast and frequent train services run to and from Victoria, London Bridge and East and West Croydon. Bus routes 2, 68, 196, 315, 322, 432 and 468 all stop within 20 yards of the front door.
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Contact us
General Enquiries:
info@southlondontheatre.co.uk.
Membership Enquiries: membership@southlondontheatre.co.uk.
Comments and suggestions regarding this website: webmaster@southlondontheatre.co.uk.
Submissions to the magazine to the Editor: backstage@southlondontheatre.co.uk.
Enquiries regarding the Youth Theatre: youththeatre@southlondontheatre.co.uk.
Sign our Guestbook
Contribute to the Discussion Board
Postal Address:
South London Theatre
2a Norwood High Street
West Norwood
London
SE27 9NS
Box Office:
020 8670 3474
Members' Club: (7.30pm onwards)
020 8670 4661
