Shows go on for Victoria pub venue! Eviction reprieve for Above The Stag Theatre
Published: 04 March 2011
by JOSH LOEB
WESTMINSTER actors and directors facing the closure of their pub theatre venue have been saved from eviction – for now at least.
Theatre company Above The Stag Theatre, based above The Stag pub in Bressenden Street, Victoria, had feared they would be out on the street by the end of this month because of a massive redevelopment of the area around the station that is being carried out by Land Securities.
However, this week the thespians announced they had received assurances they would be allowed to remain in the venue until January 2012.
Above the Stag Theatres’ artistic director, Peter Bull, said he was relieved to hear that the eviction has been avoided.
He said: “We now have some time to look for a new venue and can carry on with our planned performances, so our audiences will not be let down.
“We were told in the middle of January to leave by March 24, which gave us no warning to look for a new home. We had already sold tickets to shows months in advance and have one full-time employee, so it was a shock to us all and not a good prospect. It’s a huge relief to hear this eviction is not going ahead.”
Mr Bull said the theatre company, which began staging plays in Victoria in 2008, was important for the area.
He added: “There are no fringe theatre venues around here. Fringe theatre is an important part of London’s culture that needs to be maintained alongside the big West End shows.”
Above The Stag Theatre has scheduled shows until Christmas his year. Its current production is My Beautiful Laundrette.