The Beck Theatre is facing imminent closure... for good

At a time when the arts is on its knees, when we are faced with division and derision across the country, venues like the Beck are bringing communities together. They help to create friendships, offer a wealth of extra curricular activities and grow that spirit of togetherness, of belonging. We simply cannot afford to lose these bedrocks of our community that create a safe space for people where concerns around mental health and wellbeing are at an all time high.

The Trafalgar Group, who manage the venue, are extremely proactive and want to see the venue thrive. They’ve even offered to run the site without any local subsidies from LBH. However, LBH are refusing to offer them the lease they desperately require. Without this, they will be forced to vacate the building at the end of the year, with the doors closing behind them for good. Because let’s be honest, once it is all boarded up, and then becomes a victim of arson, or theft or other forms of vandalism, it won’t be in a fit state to re-open. We will have lost a vibrant ray of light from our community upon which we so depend.

To put this in context, around 100,000 people visit the Beck Theatre each year, and the Summer Youth Project has run since 1987, with the Beck Youth Theatre also existing for a similar time. Over the last 38 years these groups have educated and trained 1000’s of young people - of which many 100’s have gone on to work successfully in the Arts.

The venue contributes nearly £3m to the local area by way of economic impact. A show that was developed at the Beck (Jamaica Love) and sold out in the West End has been nominated for 2 x Black British Theatre Awards.

As it stands, this venue is due to close which means there would be no professional mid scale theatre in West London between Hammersmith and High Wycombe, and no home to the countless dance schools, youth groups and choirs that use the same stage to perform and enrich their lives.

According to the Ministry of Justice, Arts and Culture make us safer. According to the World Health Organisation, Arts and Culture makes us healthier. By employing local people and bringing people to Hayes, Arts and Culture also makes us richer. 

Safer. Healthier. Richer.

That is what Hillingdon is choosing to take away from people. 

You can read the letter to Beck Theatre stakeholders from Steve Sargeant, Theatre Director here