Old Streatham Hill Theatre set for its new life as a church – but does it have permission?

A campaign group anxious to see a locally famous old theatre return to something of its former glory is worried that the chances of that ever happening are receding as the evangelical church that bought it prepares to move in.

Streatham Hill Theatre has, since 1994, enjoyed Grade II listed building status and has a proud past, but succumbed to financial pressures decades ago to become a bingo hall until 2017.

The owners of the building sold it to a property company, Hold Land South East Ltd, and that company subsequently accepted a bid – reported to be about £4 million – from the Ruach City Church to take it over two years ago.

The church has been based at Brixton Hill Church before now and is only this week planning its first official gathering at the former theatre on Sunday.

But questions remain over whether it is allowed to operate as a place of worship, which would be a change of use from its previous incarnation as a bingo hall/place of entertainment.

Lambeth council did receive a planning application for temporary change of use not so long ago, but it has since been withdrawn, for reasons that are not clear.

The campaign group Fiends of Streatham Hill Theatre counts famous actors Simon Callow and Mark Rylance among its patrons and would dearly love to strike up a deal with the church whereby the venue could still be used as an arts and performance space – albeit in conjunction with its intended use now as a place of worship.

Friends chairman David Harvey told the South London Press: “We have tried to speak to them about the possibility of using the building as an arts and community centre for the benefit of local people because we believe it would benefit the local area and the local economy.

“There was a theatrical company called International Creative Venues which tried to acquire it a few years ago, but was outbid by the property company, but they are still interested in being involved. It was a lovely old venue and we’d like to see it continue to be used as a place of entertainment.”

The theatre first opened in 1929 and staged theatre, opera, ballet and variety until 1962, apart from a period between 1944 and 1950 when it was closed due to bomb damage.

In 1962 it closed to theatre, reopening as a Mecca bingo hall and continued under several operators until 2017.

The Ruach City Church has been approached for comment.

(Picture: The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre)