West London theatre facing closure due to funding cuts

The last mid-scale theatre in West London is facing imminent closure due to a lack of council support, campaigners claimed at demonstrations in Uxbridge over the weekend.

The Beck Theatre, Hayes, has been home to dance schools, youth groups and choirs since 1997, and contributes nearly £3 million to the local area.

“The risk of The Beck closing is a risk that is felt across the country, where venues are at breaking point and the scythe of cuts continues to swing. It isn’t just a local issue to Hayes, it’s a national issue and one that needs urgent attention,” Theatre director Steve Sargeant said in a LinkedIn post.

The ‘Back The Beck’ campaign launched in September, after Hillingdon Council failed to extend the lease with the venue operator Trafalgar Theatres.

In late 2021, representatives for the council met with Trafalgar Theatres to discuss its 15-year lease, which was due to end in June 2022. It got a short extension which is due to expire soon.

Since the meeting, Sergeant explained that the Beck Theatre has had issues for over two years, with the council failing to reply or offer financial solutions to keep the theatre open to the public.

Jonathan Haynes, coordinator for the Back the Beck campaign said: “The people in our community deserve the opportunity to shine and grow, through projects such as the Beck Community Choir, Summer Youth Project, International Women’s Day, and the many dance and performing arts shows from schools and academies in the local area.”

Despite theatre attendance increasing in recent years (up by 7% since 2019), investments into the arts fell by approximately £178 million between 2010 and 2023, according to the Musicians’ Union.

The Beck Theatre is symbolic of nationwide theatre concerns, as nearly 40% of theatres in the UK risk closure in the next five years, according to research by SOLT and UK Theatre in July.

Haynes said: “Where so many local clubs and groups have closed or are no longer available, the Beck provides a sense of belonging and creates an environment to enrich the lives of those in the community it seeks to serve.

“All of this is at risk if we don’t preserve this venue for the next 50 years.”

The group has hosted public meetings and demonstrations outside of Uxbridge Station over the weekend to gather support for the cause.

Additionally, there is currently a Change.org petition with over 3,700 signatures in an attempt to persuade the council to support the theatre.

A representative for the group, Suzette Farrier, said that the campaign would like to hold more demonstrations in the area if the weekend’s activities were not successful.

Hillingdon Council posted an official statement on September 26 outlining: “The council is working hard to secure a new operating partner as soon as possible to minimise disruption and ensure a smooth transition.

“We recognise the valuable contributions our theatres make to our communities and are committed to retaining a strong arts and culture offer.”

The demonstrations aim to re-open dialogue with the council and current venue staff to establish a plan from January 2025 onwards, when Trafalgar Theatre’s lease with the Beck Theatre expires.

“We will not let them run down the clock to force an inevitable closure,” Haynes said at the close of Sunday’s demonstration.