A thriving and successful studio theatre has been stabbed in the back by its own local council

The fight to save the Warehouse Theatre goes on, with a secret benefactor generously pledging to match all donations to the campaign to save the venue.

As revealed by Inside Croydon, the local council withdrew the theatre’s grant in April, while in parallel Town Hall officials were drawing up a document aimed at snatching a £3 million grant for the re-building of a studio theatre from the developers of Ruskin Square, which adjoins the old Warehouse building on Dingwall Road. Click here for the astonishing account of Croydon Council’s behind-the-scenes scheming.

But Ted Craig, the Warehouse Theatre’s artistic director, says that the fighting fund is already well on its way to raising its £20,000 target. By this weekend, the fund stood at nearly £12,000 – and Craig is keen to attract more donations. “For every £100 we receive, our benefactor will double it,” Craig said.

And like Mark Twain, a report of the Warehouse Theatre campaign’s demise is a little premature. Craig describes a recent report – in a local newspaper based in Redhill – as “an unfortunate mistake”.

Craig told Inside Croydon: “We are buoyant here at the theatre as the campaign to raise funds is going so well.

“The administrator is allowing us to continue to run the bar for the next few months and we have introduced a big selection of bottled ales which has been very successful. The foyer is open during the day for leaflet browsing.”

This evening, from 7.30pm, there is a wine-tasting event, with funds going towards the campaign. Tickets are £15.

“We are determined to stay open until a solution is found regarding the administration which we expect to happen towards the end of the year,” Craig said.

There is a plan for an all-star concert to complete the fund-raising efforts, featuring a number of local performers, to be staged in November.

• You can help keep the Warehouse Theatre by donating to the campaign fund here. Every pound you donate will be doubled by the secret donor.

• Inside Croydon: For comment and analysis about Croydon, from inside Croydon
• Post your comments on this article below. If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or local event, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com

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