wilton’s music hall - brickwork · 2004: wilton’s music hall trust is born and moves into the...
TRANSCRIPT
Wilton’s Music Hall
at the BRICK
conference 2014
PRESENTING
FRANCES MAYHEW, ARTISTIC and MANAGING DIRECTOR
Prince’s Regeneration Trust
What The Experts Say
“The most important surviving early
Music Hall anywhere … It is of
outstanding architectural and
archaeological significance.”
The Theatres Guide to British Theatres
A Story of Survival
1720: Houses in Graces Alley were built around this time
1859: John Wilton opens his Grand Music Hall
1877: Music Hall burns down and is rebuilt
1888: Converted to a Methodist Mission
1956: Mission bought out and building derelict and scheduled for
demolition
1964: Saved from demolition by Sir John Betjeman (still derelict)
1971: Awarded Grade 2* (star) listing (still derelict)
1985: No 17 is demolished and rebuilt (still derelict)
2004: Wilton’s Music Hall Trust is born and moves into the building
2014: Final leg of repair works have started
Steeped
in
history
:
Two Phases
Phase 1 The Hall
Phase 2 The Houses
• Film and photo shoots
• Small scale productions
• Bar
• Parties and weddings
• Anything else? Blood testing, teeth checks,
cinema, meetings, readings, rehearsals,
interviews, school visits…
Meanwhile uses
With (in no particular order):
• London Borough Tower Hamlets Council
• The Theatres Trust
• The Victorian Society
• The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
• English Heritage
• Local fire brigade and police force
• Neighbours & Volunteers
• Artists
To agree the best way forward…
Working together
• Ownership – know yourself! Pros and Cons
• Management and Organisational structure – changes
• Disabled Access – there is always a way in listed buildings
• Health and Safety – make friends with your local H&S officer and
a local structural engineering company
• Insurance & Security – shop around and prepare to be woken
up at night
Challenges of meanwhile use
• You never know who will walk in the door
• You learn from your mistakes
• Organic growth during meanwhile use means
you are becoming more equipped for your
preferred use – especially if there is building
work in between your meanwhile use and end
use
Learning from meanwhile use
Who might help?
• Local Press
• Local Volunteer groups
• Local Schools
• Local Businesses
• Local arts organisations
• Social media and all things digital
• SITA Trust, Virridor & other trusts and foundations
• Make your database
• Film and Photographic agencies
• Pop up events
• Never stop asking for help
End use
• Save and conserve entire building
• Provide a distinct and exiciting theatre programme
• Open 4 unused spaces for participation & learning
• Create the John Wilton Room for heritage
interpretation
• Day-time opening for visitors
• New, smaller performance spaces
• Increase income through hire of additional rooms
• Increase income from retail & catering through café,
pizzeria & bar
• Capitalise on tourist market
Saved, Revealed and Alive
• Saving the building for future generations.
• Revealing the rich heritage of Wilton’s to
people of all ages.
• Living and thriving as a vibrant cultural and
community hub.