Category Archives: BH Live

After £41m+ spend: art centre has no gallery space for art

Posted on November 28, 2019 by

An arts society formed in the borough 150 years ago faces an uncertain future as it has emerged that after spending more than £41m on refurbishing the Fairfield Halls, in a display of incompetence stunning even by Croydon’s usual standards, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arnhem Gallery, Art, BH Live, Chris Clark, Community associations, Croydon Art Society, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Paula Murray | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

We went to the Fairfield. It will be a while before we go again

Posted on September 23, 2019 by

CROYDON COMMENTARY: The re-opening of the Fairfield Halls last week, after a refurbishment that took nearly four years and cost £41million, has met with some decidedly lukewarm reactions from Croydon residents and theatre-goers. Here reader DICK BUDGEN gives his first … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, BH Live, Fairfield Halls | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Unfinished and incomplete: where’s Fairfield £41m been spent?

Posted on September 18, 2019 by

And… Breathe! The Fairfield Halls has finally re-opened, with a gala concert planned for tonight. But after over-running by 15 months and over-spending by £11million, the refurbishment is not yet finished and is incomplete. Our photo-journalist, DANNY LEIBOVITZ, reports It … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Brick by Brick, CODA, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Paul Scott, Riesco Collection, Theatre, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

What’s in a name? Ashcroft Theatre is sign of commonsense

Posted on August 22, 2019 by

Our arts critic, BELLA BARTOCK, on how pointless meddling with an established venue’s name could be a cause of marketing confusion There’s been something of a victory for commonsense, for the views of local councillors and, it has to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Fairfield Halls, Neil Chandler, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Will long-delayed Fairfield Halls re-open on time? ‘It’s got to’

Posted on June 11, 2019 by

Our arts correspondent, BELLA BARTOCK, donned a hi-viz jacket and hard hat to check on the progress being made on the £41million-plus project on the borough’s arts centre, where the first month’s programme runs from royalty to Redknapp No expense … Continue reading →

Posted in Arnhem Gallery, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Fairfield Halls, London Mozart Players, Music, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Who’d pay £50 to see Barry from accounts as Max Bialystock?

Posted on May 4, 2019 by

It may be more than a year late in re-opening, and is at least £11million over budget, but that hasn’t stopped the operators at the Fairfield Halls from continuing to pursue their pointless exercise of re-naming the Ashcroft Theatre. Workmen … Continue reading →

Posted in Arnhem Gallery, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, CODA, Fairfield Halls, Neil Chandler, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black theatre group handed studio space at Fairfield Halls

Posted on February 20, 2019 by

A renowned black drama group, the Talawa Theatre Company, has been given offices and use of a 200-seat studio theatre at the refurbished Fairfield Halls in Croydon when it reopens in September. The building will enable black artists “to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Arnhem Gallery, Art, BH Live, Fairfield Halls, Savvy Theatre Company, Talawa Theatre Company | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment