Tag Archives: BH Live

Top Tory admits Fairfield Halls could be sold for the right deal

CROYDON IN CRISIS: ‘Come on down! The price is right!’ The cabinet member for finance has said that the arts and conference centre could yet be sold if the cash-strapped council is ordered to do so. By STEVEN DOWNES Jason … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Fairfield Halls, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Music, Ria Patel, Section 114 notice, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

‘The improvement panel’s general position is to sell everything’

CROYDON COMMENTARY:  This website’s editor, STEVEN DOWNES, on why a Mayor who keeps getting caught out in untruths really needs to start being more honest with the borough’s residents If ever there was an example of Mayor Jason Perry “being … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Brick by Brick, Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Mayor Jason Perry, Music, Ria Patel, Section 114 notice, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Government panel wants Croydon to flog off the Fairfield Halls

CROYDON IN CRISIS:  With the council’s annual overspend reaching £100m, Whitehall-appointed commissioners could force the sale of the arts centre, which the C20 Society describes as an ‘underappreciated South Bank Centre of the suburbs’. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon could … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Borough of Culture 2023, Brick by Brick, Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Music, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Mozart Players return to Fairfield with community-style Vivaldi

The London Mozart Players are to make a rare concert appearance at the Fairfield Halls next month, with what they call “a new cross-genre performance” of Changing Seasons. Changing Seasons is “a multi-genre spectacular”, London Mozart Players say, “that reimagines … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Dance, Fairfield Halls, London Mozart Players, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Only in Croydon: Fairfield stages Snow White and the 5 Dwarfs

What was it that David Bowie said about Croydon? Festive fun-seekers turning up at the council-owned Fairfield Halls earlier this week having paid as much as £37 for their ticket to see a seasonal pantomime probably felt a bit short-changed … Continue reading

Posted in Fairfield Halls, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Fairfield Halls to close down borough’s biggest music school

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council-owned arts centre, refurbished at a cost of £70m, is closing its doors to 200 fee-paying pupils in what one councillor describes as ‘a loss to the community’. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon, London’s “Borough of … Continue reading

Posted in Art, BH Live, Borough of Culture 2023, Business, Croydon Council, Croydon School of Art, Fairfield Halls, Jonathan Higgins, Music, Neil Chandler, Ruskin Square, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Kendo Nagasaki’s return bout could be knock-out for Fairfield

Our arts correspondent, BELLA BARTOCK, on how a geriatric grappler is the latest sign of a declining reputation at the council-owned arts venue The “jewel in the crown” of Croydon Council’s arts offering, the Fairfield Halls, will be used to … Continue reading

Posted in Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Fairfield Halls, The Wreck | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fairfield Halls rocked as Higgins leaves artistic director role

The Fairfield Halls, Croydon’s cultural centre, is seeking its fourth artistic director in little more than three years, after it was announced today that Jonathan Higgins is leaving to take a position at another venue in Newcastle. Higgins moved to … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Fairfield Halls, Jon Workman, Jonathan Higgins | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Fears grow at Fairfield Halls over operator’s unsigned lease

The Fairfield Halls may be in “hibernation” until next year because of coronavirus, but Croydon Council is now facing another crisis over its ill-fated £43million refurbishment project, with growing fears that the company appointed to manage the arts complex could … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Borough of Culture 2023, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Neil Chandler, Oliver Lewis | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

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

‘Lack of trust’ sees arts venue selling just 26% of tickets

With the Fairfield Halls refurbishment costs now confirmed as £42.6m, and still rising, the venue is struggling to win back its audiences, as KEN LEE reports The costs of refurbishing the Fairfield Halls rose by another £1.6million in just five … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Jo Negrini, Neil Chandler, Sean Fitzsimons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

‘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

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

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

Fairfield Halls ‘Grand Re-opening Gala’ date set for June 2019

EXCLUSIVE: Arts correspondent BELLA BARTOCK on the latest delay to the borough’s ‘Cultural Quarter’ plans The Fairfield Halls’ “Grand Re-opening Gala”, to be staged in the Concert Hall in the presence of the Earl of Wessex, won’t be taking place … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, London Mozart Players, Music, Theatre, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fairfield Halls makes a Savvy move over community theatre

BELLA BARTOCK, our arts correspondent, on an announcement today which suggests a greater community involvement in theatre productions once the Fairfield Halls re-opens Sutton’s loss appears to be Croydon’s gain, after it was announced this morning that the Savvy Theatre … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Fairfield Halls, Neil Chandler, Paula Murray, Savvy Theatre Company, Sutton Council, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chandler lands ‘best job in town’ as Fairfield Halls director

Neil Chandler, a former operations manager at Fairfield Halls, has been appointed venue director for the borough’s cultural hub, which is due to re-open in 12 months’ time following a council-funded £30million refurbishment. The appointment was announced this week by … Continue reading

Posted in Art, BH Live, Fairfield Halls, Neil Chandler | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Fairfield manager wanted. Must be able to cope with council

BH Live, the Dorset-based conference and events venue managers who have been appointed to operator the Fairfield Halls, are recruiting for general manager. The daunting job spec is similarly demanding to that which the Football Association put out when looking … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Theatre | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Dorset venue operator to be given £180m Fairfield contract

A social enterprise company which manages the Bournemouth International Centre on the south coast is set to be announced as the new operator for Croydon’s Fairfield Halls later this week. A council report revealed that the deal, which could last … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Music, Theatre, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments