Wilton’s Music Hall - BRICKwork · 2004: Wilton’s Music Hall Trust is born and moves into the...

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.