The Stage

Paul Robeson Theatre under threat of closure

Published Wednesday 10 August 2011 at 17:31 by Natalie Woolman

Hounslow’s Paul Robeson Theatre is under threat after the local council opened a public consultation about closing the venue.

The London Borough of Hounslow said this would help to fund a refurbishment of the local library. Under the plans, the space currently used by the theatre, which is situated within a shopping centre in the outer west London borough, would be given over to a retailer and the renovated library.

In the introduction to its online public survey, it said: “The council has been approached by the owners of the Treaty Centre to review if we would be prepared to surrender part of our lease to accommodate a new major retailer who will financially contribute to the proposed library refurbishment.

“The full modernisation of Hounslow library would not go ahead without the additional financial contribution, but we would require the closure of the Paul Robeson Theatre and cafe area, which is currently severely underused.”

However, locals have hit out at the plans to close the 280-capacity theatre and the adjoining cafe. The council’s claim that the venue is “severely underused” is also being disputed.

Stuart Walton, a freelance theatre technician who has worked at the venue, said: “I think everyone I know who is connected with the theatre in any way is quite appalled by it and it has caused a lot of anger among people, that’s why everyone is coming together.

“There’s nothing comparable in the area. It’s central in Hounslow - everyone knows where it is and it suits a lot of people who come here, this place is the right size for them.”

The council’s consultation statement said performances could be relocated into the Feltham Assembly Hall, Isleworth Public Hall or Watermans Arts Centre, but Walton said these venues were not suitable for the type of acts and groups that used the Paul Robeson.

Walton added that he and a group of local people opposed to the closure were hoping to organise an open forum about the situation in Hounslow this week.

He also planned to write a letter to the council to challenge the validity of the information published in its consultation document, which stated that the Paul Robeson was only booked for 13% of available time from January to June 2011.

The council’s public survey about the closure of the theatre is available online on the London Borough of Hounslow website and is open until August 28.