Forum Topic

Could Victoria Hall host a theatre?

After reading about the long-running saga of Victoria Hall plus the controversy over the Walpole Park Theatre, it occurred to me there might be a link. (I'm assuming I'm not the first to thought of this).

According to AI, you could probably fit a theatre with seating of 600 in the hall if you put in a second tier. This would be too small for Troubadour which has never opened anything with less than a four figure capacity but what if this building was gifted to Questors in return for the existing theatre site. This could then be redeveloped into a new larger theatre plus flats by Troubadour or another operator. The building is in a conservation area so it couldn't be high rise but it could be a mansion block with flats that would be popular given the great location.

Just a thought — I'm sure there are hundreds of challenges to do this but it would deliver over 2,000 theatre seats to Ealing, protect the long term future of Questors and solve a sticky problem for the council

Mark Evans ● 8h3 Comments

Or just stick a tent up in a park to gauge interest before doing all that?
(not saying I agree with the tent in the park)

Paul James ● 8h

Paul, I thought I had made clear the possible link  between what it being proposed and the Victoria Hall plan. Obviously not. 

The broader question is — if Troubadour's plan is a failure and the theatre shuts within three years then the whole thing will be quickly forgotten but what if it is a significant success and brings a thousand people a night into Ealing many of whom will eat at local restaurants and drink at local bars — what happens at the end of the lease?

Mark Evans ● 3h

Ah, sorry, didn't realise this was what could happoen after the tent in the park, I thought you were outlining an alternative to putting a tent in the park.

Paul James ● 2h