Tag Archives: Ashcroft Theatre

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

£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 , , , , , , , , , , , | 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

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‘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 , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Croydon BID, Fairfield Halls, London Mozart Players, Neil Chandler, Talawa Theatre Company, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Newman fails to deny that Fairfield Halls bill has reached £60m

The refurbishment of the Fairfield Halls could end up costing Croydon’s Council Tax-payers £60million – or even more. And there are fears within the town’s arts circles that BH Live, the events and management firm brought in by venue owners … Continue reading

Posted in Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Paula Murray, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

‘Overnight sensation’ Kojo Anim is coming to Ashcroft Theatre

Kojo Anim, the comedy star “discovered” by Britain’s Got Talent after spending just 20 years playing the club and stand-up circuit, is booked to perform at the Ashcroft Theatre at the end of next month as part of his first … Continue reading

Posted in Ashcroft Theatre, Comedy, Fairfield Halls | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Oscar-winning musical makes uncertain steps on the stage

They’ve had Angela’s Ashes – The Musical, and the traditional panto has returned (Oh yes it has) as the Fairfield Halls tries to re-establish its creative credentials after the theatre was dark for three years. So how does Once, the … Continue reading

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‘I paid £45 to see Dame Judi, and this is the view I had’

The management of the Fairfield Halls is facing having to make thousands of pounds-worth of refunds after the latest nuclear weapons-grade balls-up connected to the re-opening of the venue this week. Our loyal reader has been in touch, desperately disappointed … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Fairfield Halls, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

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’

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?

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

You can help CODA produce a return to the Ashcroft Theatre

After a seven-year absence, Croydon’s foremost AmDram group is preparing for a return to the Fairfield Halls when the council-owned arts venue re-opens in September after a £41million-plus refurbishment. And CODA wants you to be part of their week-long run … Continue reading

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Fairfield Halls chief tells councillors not to ask questions

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE reports on how the manager hired to run the Fairfield Halls won’t tolerate questions about the venue from the borough’s elected representatives Neil Chandler, the former cruise ship entertainments officer who has been placed in charge … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Neil Chandler, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Now Fairfield operators want to re-name the Ashcroft Theatre

Our arts correspondent, BELLA BARTOCK, on the latest piece of meddling going on around the much-delayed arts venue’s refurbishment Neil Chandler, the former cruise ship entertainments officer who has been placed in charge of the Fairfield Halls’ artistic programme has … Continue reading

Posted in Arnhem Gallery, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Neil Chandler, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments