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Tag Archives: Ashcroft Theatre
Fairfield Halls left haunted by acts from its more glorious past
CROYDON COMMENTARY: The music-loving public expect better and the venue deserves better than a stream of tribute acts, says KEN TOWL Clive John is a very good singer and he was an engaging presence on the stage of the Ashcroft … Continue reading
Relax! Aladdin has panto performances to suit everyone
A trip to the panto can be a magical experience and a highlight of the festive holidays. But for some, including those venturing to the theatre for the first time, the event can be as equally overwhelming and stressful as … Continue reading
Posted in Ashcroft Theatre, Fairfield Halls, Theatre
Tagged Aladdin, Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Davood Ghadami, Fairfield Halls, Kiera-Nicole Brennan, Panto, pantomime
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Aladdin shows it’s not just Town Hall with panto villains
Davood Ghadami says he wants to frighten as many Croydon children as he possibly can. The Holby City and EastEnders star is playing the evil Abanazar in Aladdin at the Fairfield Halls this December, and he is determined to prove … Continue reading
Taking Liberty with the arts in a way that celebrates us all
KEN TOWL takes hope, and much joy, from last week’s Liberty Festival, where deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists injected some much-needed culture into the borough. Photos by PAUL FULLER The Liberty Festival, which landed in Croydon last weekend, represented the … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Borough of Culture 2023, Comedy, Dance, Fairfield Halls, Ken Towl, Music, Poetry
Tagged Aaron Simmonds, Ashcroft Theatre, Borough of Culture, Croydon, Drunken Chorus, Fairfield Halls, Francesca Martinez, giraffes, Inner Vision Orchestra, Ken Towl, Liberty Festival, Steve Day
4 Comments
80 years on the stage – taking Croydon from the Blitz to Narnia
SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the first performances by CODA, the Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association, making it one of the longest-lasting community arts organisations in the borough. DAVID MORGAN looks into how the group came … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, CODA, David Morgan, History, Theatre
Tagged Ashcroft Theatre, CODA, Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association, David Morgan, Fairfield Halls, Grand Theatre, Grand Theatre and Opera House, Kenneth Horne, Narnia, Russell Grant, Second World War, Simon Le Bon, The Blitz, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, World War II, World War Two
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Get your skates on for a summer of fun at the Fairfield Halls
You’d better get your skates on, because there’s a summer-long set of exciting films, shows and entertainment on offer for all the family at the Fairfield Halls, starting this week. And lots of what’s on offer is either free or … Continue reading
Panto producers seek new talents for Aladdin at the Ashcroft
UK Productions and Fairfield Halls are on the hunt for local talent for this year’s Croydon pantomime Aladdin to be staged at the Ashcroft Theatre. Auditions for the Principal Ensemble are taking place at Fairfield Halls on Friday July 7 … Continue reading
Posted in Ashcroft Theatre, Comedy, Dance, Education, Fairfield Halls, Music, Schools
Tagged Aladdin, Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Davood Ghadami, Fairfield Halls, Kiera-Nicole Brennan
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Aladdin promises a magic carpet ride at the Ashcroft Theatre
EastEnders and Holby City star Davood Ghadami and children’s TV favourite and former BRIT School pupil Kiera-Nicole Brennan head the cast announced this week for the biggest show of the year at the Fairfield Halls – the panto, which for … Continue reading
Posted in Ashcroft Theatre, Comedy, Dance, Fairfield Halls, Music, Theatre
Tagged Aladdin, Ashcroft Theatre, Brit School, Davood Ghadami, Fairfield Halls, Kiera-Nicole Brennan, Panto
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Fairfield Halls offers some Easter movie magic for just £2
A money-saving cinema club, offering films on the big screen for just £2 per ticket, is coming to the Fairfield Halls this Easter, as the borough’s arts centre looks to offer fun and entertainment on a budget for hard-pressed Croydon … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Cinema, Comedy, Fairfield Halls
Tagged Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Easter, Fairfield Halls, Family Film Club
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Younger Generation open auditions, Purley, Feb 26, Mar 26
Younger Generation, the charity theatre group for nine- to 18-year-olds who enjoy performing have two open audition dates coming up. The auditions could lead to the youngsters becoming part of the cast for a show to be performed at the … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Dance, Fairfield Halls, Music, Purley
Tagged Ashcroft Theatre, Fairfield Halls, Purley, Younger Generation Theatre Group
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Troup is making a song and dance of its return to the Ashcroft
The Younger Generation Theatre Group is seeking new members to join its cast for its upcoming shows. YG couldn’t perform during the pandemic years and according to one of their organisers, “During that time a lot of our core cast … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Dance, Music, Theatre
Tagged Ashcroft Theatre, Purley, Younger Generation Theate Group
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Help preserve the memory of Bird’s Ashcroft Theatre mural
The three-year closure of the Fairfield Halls, supposedly for “refurbishment”, is widely thought to have led to the loss of several artworks that previously graced the buildings, in an act of cultural vandalism from which the borough’s artistic reputation might … Continue reading
iC supporters win tickets for Twopence To Cross The Mersey
Congratulations to loyal readers Ethel Corduff and Angus Hewlett, who will be going to the theatre next week accompanied by a friend or partner, all thanks to Inside Croydon. Ethel and Angus both answered the (very) simple question posed in … Continue reading
WIN!!! Exclusive competition: Twopence To Cross The Mersey
Inside Croydon is delighted to offer our loyal readers the chance to see a new theatre production coming to the Fairfield Halls next month: the play Twopence To Cross The Mersey. We have two pairs of stalls tickets – face … Continue reading
Depression-era drama brings Mersey beat to Ashcroft Theatre
The first national tour of Helen Forrester’s Twopence To Cross The Mersey is coming to Croydon’s Fairfield Halls next month. The new touring production of Twopence To Cross The Mersey is produced by Rob Fennah and Lynn McDermott and directed … Continue reading
Mayor has weeks to save Fairfield Halls and Borough of Culture
It is symptomatic of BHLive’s lack of real connection with the borough in which they are supposed to manage its largest arts venue that they chose the day of the Croydon local election results to make the announcement of the … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Borough of Culture 2023, Brick by Brick, Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Neil Chandler, Paula Murray, Sadiq Khan, The Wreck, Theatre, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross
Tagged Ashcroft Theatre, BHLive, Bournemouth, Chris Symons, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Fairfield Halls, Jason Perry, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory
10 Comments
Bafta-winner Scanlan joins calls for new bosses at arts centre
‘Things are far from perfick at the Fairfield ‘Alls’ says the award-winning actress who plays Ma Larkin, as the campaign to sack BHLive gathers momentum. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Joanna Scanlan, the BAFTA award-winning actress, has called on Croydon Council … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Borough of Culture 2023, Fairfield Halls, Music, The Wreck, Theatre
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Ashcroft Theatre, BAFTA, Borough of Culture, Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Fairfield Halls, Joanna Scanlan, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Oliver Lewis, The Larkins
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£67m arts centre – with no art gallery and few performances
EXCLUSIVE: The Fairfield Halls fiasco gets worse by the day, with Bournemouth-based venue operators BHLive staging shows on just 24% of available dates. Croydon is supposed to be London’s ‘Borough of Culture’ in 2023… By STEVEN DOWNES Croydon is London’s … Continue reading
Posted in Alison Butler, Arnhem Gallery, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Borough of Culture 2023, Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Hamida Ali, Mayor of London, Neil Chandler, Oliver Lewis, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Sadiq Khan, Talawa Theatre Company, The Wreck, Theatre, Tony Newman
Tagged Alison Butler, Ashcroft Theatre, Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor, Oliver Lewis, Sadiq Khan, The Wreck, Tony Newman
7 Comments
Dick and Dom do the Fairfield panto: which one’s the Beast?
Rehearsals are well underway for this year’s Croydon pantomime at the Fairfield Halls, with the curtain going up next Friday at the Ashcroft Theatre on Imagine Theatre’s glittering production of Beauty and The Beast, starring Dick and Dom… though no … Continue reading
‘The damage to the Fairfield Halls reputation is severe’
CROYDON IN CRISIS: While the cash-strapped council remains preoccupied with its finances, the once prestigious arts centre on the other side of Park Lane risks sliding towards cultural oblivion. By our arts correspondent, BELLA BARTOCK There are growing concerns that … Continue reading
Posted in Arnhem Gallery, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Borough of Culture 2023, Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, GLL - Better, Mayor of London, Neil Chandler, Oliver Lewis, Paula Murray, Sadiq Khan, The Wreck, Theatre, Tony Newman
Tagged Ashcroft Theatre, BHLive, Borough of Culture, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Labour, Oliver Lewis, Paula Murray, Sadiq Khan, The Wreck, Tony Newman
13 Comments
Millions of questions for BHLive over Fairfield grant aid
CROYDON IN CRISIS: It’s like nothing has ever changed at the borough’s prestigious arts centre, where tribute acts still dominate its sparse programme, while the venue operators are staying schtum about how they’re spending public money. By our arts correspondent, … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Borough of Culture 2023, Brick by Brick, Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, London Mozart Players, Neil Chandler, The Wreck
Tagged Arts Council England, Ashcroft Theatre, BHLive, Brick by Brick, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Labour, The Wreck
5 Comments
Culture deals with covid-19 without making a song and dance
The sense of doom and gloom caused by the covid-19 pandemic had well and truly taken hold of London by the middle of last week. There was a dark humour about the place reflected by the public address system at … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Cinema, Croydon Bach Choir, Croydon Male Voice Choir, Croydon Philharmonic Choir, David Lean Cinema Campaign, Fairfield Halls, Music, Talawa Theatre Company, Theatre, Theatre Workshop Coulsdon
Tagged Ashcroft Theatre, BHLive, Croydon Council, Croydon Male Voice Choir, David Lean Cinema, Fairfield Halls, London Borough of Croydon, Save the David Lean Campaign, Theatre Workshop Coulsdon
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Fairfield Halls director quits less than six months after opening
EXCLUSIVE: A £42.6m white elephant without its mahout? Our arts correspondent, BELLA BARTOCK, reports on the most dramatic of exits from the Fairfield Halls Neil Chandler has left the building. The Fairfield Halls’ venue and artistic director has left his … Continue reading
