Leonie Scott-Matthews and Godfrey Old
THE daughter of a fringe theatre director says she had to watch the locks being changed after being told they had to leave after more than 50 years of performances.
As the New Journal reported last week, the Pentameters playhouse, above the Horseshoe in Heath Street, Hampstead, was told it would not have its lease renewed by the pub company.
Léonie Scott-Matthews founded Pentameters in 1968.
Her daughter Alice Old said: “This week has been really challenging. I actually happened to be passing when the locks to the theatre were being changed, it wasn’t easy seeing that. But the recognition we’ve felt this week from Hampstead people getting on board and showing their support, it really has shown the power of the community.”
Former England international Tony Woodcock, who played for Arsenal is among the supporters of the Pentameters Theatre.
He said: “The closing of Pentameters is a major talking point in Hampstead on the streets and with the village residents. It’s turned into Hampstead’s most talked about secret, it feels like the villagers are wanting more information into when and why this is happening.”
The theatre was told it had to leave by last Thursday and the doors was locked the next day.
A notice that the lease for the space above the Horseshoe pub was up was served last December.
Chris Froshaug, poet, artist and long-term visitor and supporter of the theatre said: “I don’t know of any public place like that where this happens anymore and it’s also wonderful for people’s mental health – and the youngsters having a place to go to where they can perform.”
Ms Old said: “Whether it stays on the premises in some form or not we don’t know yet but at the end of the day it won’t be what it is now – this place has soul, and that is something that can’t be imitated.”
A Horseshoe spokesperson said they would not be commenting further this week.
A spokesperson for Camden Council, the freeholders, said: “We are speaking to Urban Pubs, the leaseholders of this building, to better understand the current situation and how we may be able to assist.”
