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.