The recent shutdown of a prominent theatre in London’s West End, a historic training ground for countless actors, has been described as a „significant loss for the acting community and the arts,“ according to advocates.
The Actors Centre relocated to its Covent Garden location in 1994, following a fundraising campaign led by Sir Anthony Hopkins. Originally granted a 999-year lease at a nominal rent, the venue transitioned to the Seven Dials Playhouse (SDP) in 2021, shifting its focus from training to hosting performances, which ultimately led to its closure.
At its height, the venue facilitated approximately 1,700 workshops annually and boasted a membership exceeding 5,000, including notable figures such as founding member Dame Sheila Hancock.
In September 2024, the theatre was sold for £3.6 million in an effort to create new revenue streams and establish a sustainable future, following the collapse of its previous membership and training model. However, the organization was liquidated within 18 months.
A statement from the organization indicated that despite „extensive efforts to stabilize the organization… it has become clear that Seven Dials Playhouse can no longer continue operating on a viable basis.“ As a result, 13 staff members, some of whom were part-time, will lose their jobs, and the SDP reportedly owes thousands of pounds to various contractors.
„The loss is devastating because it was more than just a building,“ said Kate Maravan, director of The New Actors Centre.
Maravan expressed her frustration, stating, „I feel anger at the loss of this massive asset that was built up for the charity over decades. I hope that the people who did this are held accountable.“ She added, „I do feel a deep sadness. I think, in a way, they drained it of its heart. So often we’d walk past it and it would just be empty: a building that had been filled with actors and creative artists across the profession, bustling, alive, a place to meet, a place to hang out, have a coffee, do a class, meet people, collaborate, just became this empty space. It feels like the heart’s been taken out of it.“
SDP’s chief executive, Amanda Davey, referred to the closure on March 31 as „an incredibly painful moment.“ This decision followed an investigation by the Charity Commission, which appointed interim managers to scrutinize the charity’s financial management and governance, aiming to understand the circumstances that led to its severe financial difficulties.
„A lot of love and a lot of effort went into creating that for actors, by actors,“ said Louise Bangay, who campaigned to save the original Actors Centre.
Bangay reflected on her personal connection to the venue, stating, „It was very valuable in that actors could arrive, go through lines with people, do classes, have a cup of tea, find out what was going on and end up collaborating on work together.“ She expressed her disappointment regarding the closure, saying, „It’s a feeling of despair that the Charities Commission… did not see from the outset that this business model was flawed. It feels very tragic, unnecessary. I feel a sense of disappointment for people like Anthony Hopkins and Alan Bates, I feel a sense of fury about the people who have caused it and I feel like I wish I could have done more.“
Ayvianna Snow, director of The New Actors Centre and chair of the Equity actors union’s London north branch, is advocating for a thorough investigation into the financial mismanagement that has occurred. She stated, „This is incredibly damaging. The Seven Dials Playhouse set itself up as being a home for young artists. They were supposedly going to help young people get into this very precarious industry but all this week I have been receiving phone calls from my members who have been left out of pocket to the tune of thousands of pounds. The union is very, very, very angered by this mismanagement and the lies that have been told to these young people.“
In January, Alexander Gifford, artistic director of Marylebone Theatre, along with Adrian Locher, cultural programme director at Rudolf Steiner House, offered displaced actors a new venue and a fresh start.
Dame Sheila Hancock, a highly respected figure in British acting, remarked at the launch of The New Actors Centre that there had been „a queue around the block“ for workshops back in 1978.
She noted, „We did work really hard to get it off the ground. It was sometimes quite heartbreaking and difficult because we didn’t have the communication that you’ve got nowadays but it was worth it. It’s such a lonely business ours. When you’re out of work, you just feel there’s nobody out there but if you’ve got somewhere to come and have a coffee or talk about a bit of work or maybe do a dialogue or anything, it keeps you alive.“
Harry Burton, one of the directors of The New Actors Centre, described the loss of the original centre as a „sorry saga“ but expressed optimism that „there is now affordable, continuous training back on the map for the acting profession.“ He emphasized the importance of community support for actors, stating, „The people that we see every day and every night on television and in the cinemas, they are the cream of the cream and they are the lucky ones who get offered an awful lot of the work first. But there’s a huge body of workers underneath that top layer who need to be supported, sustained, who need opportunities to create community, to be together, to make work, to try things out, to experiment, and to just hang out and have a cup of tea and have a chat, and Marylebone Theatre has given us that opportunity, and we’re very grateful for that.“
In a statement, Amanda Davey expressed her sorrow over the closure, stating, „This is an incredibly painful moment for everyone who has cared for, worked in and built Seven Dials Playhouse. I am immensely proud of our staff team, who have shown extraordinary compassion, professionalism and resilience through an exceptionally difficult period. Seven Dials Playhouse has mattered deeply to so many creatives, independent companies and audiences, and I know this loss will be felt across our community and across the wider sector. While this is an immensely sad ending, I remain deeply proud of what this organization has made possible, and honoured to have been a part of it.“
The board of trustees issued a joint statement expressing gratitude to the staff, artists, supporters, partners, and communities that shaped Seven Dials Playhouse, acknowledging its significant role in fostering new voices in central London.
A spokesperson for the Charity Commission commented, „We are aware that Seven Dials Playhouse closed last month and that many will be saddened by this outcome. As part of our ongoing statutory inquiry into the charity, we have been monitoring events closely, liaising with the interim manager appointed last October. It is important that we take our time to conduct a thorough investigation. We will publish a report once our inquiry has concluded, setting out our findings and conclusions, and making clear what regulatory action we have taken, and why.“
Joseph Colley, a partner at the appointed liquidator Moore Kingston Smith & Partners, stated, „Sadly our findings made it clear that Seven Dials Playhouse continuing to operate wasn’t an option, and the trustees made the difficult decision to close it. As usual, it’s our duty to work closely and support the stakeholders in a smooth closure process that’s handled with empathy for all the employees, artists and stakeholders affected.“
Bildquelle: Foto von JUNHYUNG PARK auf Unsplash
