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Story by Jack Foley
JUST a little over one month after the Bridewell Theatre Company
left its base in EC4, the St Bride Foundation is pleased to announce
the future of the Bridewell Theatre has been secured.
The turnaround has been made possible thanks to a collaboration
between the Stock Exchange Dramatic and Operatic Society (SEDOS)
and the Tower Theatre Company.
The Bridewell Theatre, founded in 1994, is one of the few remaining
off-West End theatres and a key performing arts venue in the heart
of the City with a long-held reputation as a promoter of theatrical
talent.
After the departure of its resident theatre company, the St Bride
Foundation was determined to keep the venue alive and is delighted
that the collaboration between SEDOS and the Tower Theatre Company
will ensure the continuation of quality performances within the
City while during the day, this atmospheric venue will be available
for conferences and other events.
SEDOS, a highly-regarded city-based group and the oldest amateur
dramatic group in London, celebrates its 100th birthday in 2005
and the Bridewell Theatre will be at the heart of its centenary
programme, which opens with The Voysey Inheritance,
by Harley Granville Barker, from February (22 to 26.
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This will be followed by Stephen
Sondheim’s Company, an appropriate choice
for a venue so associated with Sondheim work (April 13-23l).
In June presentations include The Eurosedos Song Contest 2005:
the Live Final, and original, unusual and fun concept by Deryck
High.
The other partner in the collaboration is the Tower Theatre Company,
which has been entertaining audiences in North London for over
70 years, and which is excited to make The Bridewell its new temporary
home for the next 18 months or so while it remains in transit
to a new permanent home.
It is a unique operation being the only full-time non-professional
company in London, staging some 18 productions a year that compete
with the best of the professional London fringe.
The Tower’s kicks off its program at The Bridewell with
The Fantasticks by Tom Jones, with music by Harvey
Schmidt (April 27 - May 7), followed by The Elephant Man,
by Bernard Pomerance (May 10 -14) and William Shakespeare’s’
ever popular Romeo & Juliet (May 15 –
21).
Mike Jenkins, St Bride Foundation Chief Executive, commented:
"As a community charity, we are thrilled to be able to preserve
this cultural gem whilst serving the social and educational needs
of the local community and will endeavour to continue the good
work that has given
"The Bridewell Theatre its exemplary reputation."
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