Soho Theatre Walthamstow initial 2025 programme
- The new Soho Theatre Walthamstow opens its doors in May 2025 with a vibrant and eclectic first programme of work, bringing the best of Soho Theatre’s acclaimed programme to a bigger
- This major new London venue, restored from the beloved 1930s former Granada, will feature a 960-seat auditorium and studio
- Highlights of the inaugural programme include new monthly comedy lineup show Neon Nights featuring Amy Gledhill, Ania Magliano, Bridget Christie, Catherine Bohart, Desiree Burch, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Janine Harouni, Jessica Fostekew, Jin Hao Li, John Kearns, Josh Pugh, Kemah Bob, Larry Dean, Olga Koch, Phil Wang, Rosie Jones, Sam Campbell, Sara Pascoe, Sindhu Vee, Slim, Thanyia Moore, Tom Davis and Urooj
- New work is announced from Bryony Kimmings and pantomime for all ages (Soho-style) returns to the historic stage after more than 70 years with a brand new Aladdin E The Magic Lamp written and directed by Susie
- Shows already announced include: Natalie Palamides, Tim Minchin, Dara Ó Briain, Suzi Ruffell, Kiell Smith-Bynoe E Friends, The Tiger Lillies, Josh Johnson, Josie Long, Dale Elliott Jnr, John Early, Sarah Keyworth, Stamptown, Reggie Watts, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Rahul Dua, The Un-Royal Variety, Brown Girls Do It Too, CHRISTEENE, On Cinema Live! (Gregg Turkington E Tim Heidecker) and TiFo Football Podcast live, and Adam Riches and John Kearns ARE ‘Ball E Boe’ for one night
- Tickets are on sale at sohotheatre.com with 15,000 tickets for £15 available for locals throughout the first year.
- Soho Theatre’s second London venue builds on its digital, international and cultural growth which will see its annual audiences increase from 250k to an estimated 400k+.
Soho Theatre Walthamstow, a major new 960-seat venue opens in May 2025, and will house the very best UK and international comedy, theatre, cabaret and panto, alongside a lively creative engagement programme. Beautifully restored from the 1930s former Granada by Waltham Forest Council in partnership with Soho Theatre, the new venue includes a refurbished Grade II* listed auditorium, brand-new studio spaces, backstage facilities, four bars (Main Foyer, Ziggurat, Crosshall and Circle), and a restaurant. Recreating the buzzing atmosphere of Soho Theatre Bar within a magnificent heritage surrounding, Soho Theatre will run the food and beverage offer in-house, featuring Neon, Soho Theatre’s own lager with Adnams and East London Brewery brewed locally in the borough, and Curry On Naanstop, one of Britain’s top takeaways (as seen on BBC TV), now in-house serving Mumbai street food. A local theatre with a national profile, Soho Theatre Walthamstow will feature a world-class line-up for audiences from across London and beyond and will sit alongside Soho Theatre Dean Street as the iconic central London venue celebrates 25 years at the forefront of cutting- edge new theatre, comedy and cabaret.
The opening season at Soho Theatre Walthamstow boasts an impressive lineup of comedy and cabaret performances. Natalie Palamides returns to London with their critically acclaimed “WEER” to open the venue, and solo shows from Dara O’Briain, Sarah Keyworth, and local award-winning comedian Mark Watson are set to entertain. The venue will host the US alt-comedy superstar and Emmy-nominated comedian John Early, with Ahir Shah (who recently wrapped up his Soho Theatre India tour and was nominated for Best Comedy Show at Melbourne International Comedy Festival this month), Suzi Ruffell, and Josie Long also stopping by on their respective tours. The new lineup show, “Neon Nights,” will be a great night out featuring a stellar cast of performers, many who have been regulars to Soho Theatre Dean Street over the years, Amy Gledhill, Ania Magliano, Bridget Christie, Catherine Bohart, Desiree Burch, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Janine Harouni, Jessica Fostekew, Jin Hao Li, John Kearns, Josh Pugh, Kemah Bob, Larry Dean, Olga Koch, Phil Wang, Rosie Jones, Sam Campbell, Sara Pascoe, Sindhu Vee, Slim, Thanyia Moore, Tom Davis and Urooj Ashfaq. International acts Rahul Dua, Dale Elliott, Biswa Kalyan Rath, and Jack Tucker will perform their largest UK shows to date.
Additionally, the theatre has commissioned Bryony Kimmings to present her first show in five years as “Bog Witch” opens this October, and renowned cabaret stars The Tiger Lillies will deliver a specially curated Soho-themed performance for one night only. The inaugural pantomime, “Aladdin E The Magic Lamp” written and directed by award-winning actor, director, and writer Susie McKenna, promises festive fun. Adding to the excitement, the season includes the live version of the critically acclaimed podcast “Brown Girls Do It Too” where Poppy and Rubina bring their candid discussions on British Asian women’s experiences to the stage. Alt-comedy legends Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington will present “On Cinema Live,” bringing the full-stage show of their popular web series and podcast to the UK for the first time. The season also features CHRISTEENE, in an all-new, powerfully imagined theatrical backed by band and dancers. Additionally, Jonny Woo’s Un-Royal Variety Performance will offer a subversive take on the traditional variety show, showcasing a diverse range of acts and talents. For further programme details see listings in Notes to Editors.
Locally, to celebrate the opening, Soho Theatre Walthamstow are offering 15,000 tickets for £15 across the first year of shows – up to May 2026 – to those who live, work or study in the borough as part of Soho Theatre’s partnership with Waltham Forest Council. Other areas of creative engagement will include heritage building tours and cross-borough events such as a two-day film festival Waltham Forest on Film celebrating Walthamstow’s contribution to the world of cinema from 1800 – the present day (28th June and 26th July) curated by The McGuffin Film Society which returns to its home venue after a 22-year absence (more events and details to be announced soon).
Aligning with Soho Theatre’s mission to create new work, nurture creative talent and engage diverse audiences, there will be a line-up of taster workshops, full- length Local Labs, In Conversation events, Write Night (playwrights drop-in sessions) and The Makers Lab (a programme for solo artists or small ensembles to devise innovative new work). Young people will be able to get involved through various schemes including the Primary Playwrights programme which supports young people (across five schools in the borough) to write their first play; the launch of Soho Theatre’s Panto Young Company, in partnership with Susie McKenna who will work with local performing arts schools; NT Connections which will give young people the chance to perform new work on stage by some of the UK’s most exciting writers and the continuation of Soho Theatre’s work with training programme Future Formed, with Waltham Forest Council, which supports access for young people into the cultural sector through training and paid placements in tech, producing and backstage.
Soho Theatre Walthamstow is a vibrant new theatre steeped in a rich history. A performance venue since 1897, in 1930 the site was redeveloped and opened with exteriors designed by Cecil Masey and extraordinary ornate interior decoration by Theodore Komisarjevsky, inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. Majestic and awe-inspiring, the new Granada hosted comedy, panto, drag, music and film. From the mid-1950s artists including The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbinson, Dusty Springfield, The Who, The Ronettes, Chuck Berry, Duke Ellington and The Rolling Stones performed there, and a pantomime was presented each Christmas. The last live performance took place in 1973 and the Granada became a cinema (where audiences watched from the dress circle as the stalls were removed) changing owners until it became known as the EMD Cinema sadly closing its doors in 2003.
In 2003 the building was sold to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God and for more than a decade it lay empty as they sought planning permission to turn it into a church whilst it fell into disrepair. Concerned about the loss of this much-loved cultural space, local grassroots groups including McGuffin Film Society and Save Walthamstow Cinema led a passionate campaign against losing its use as an entertainment venue and to preserve its heritage. In 2010 the Waltham Forest Cinema Trust joined the campaign, a newly established local group to bring a clear new vision for the venue’s viable future, working closely with Soho Theatre. Joining forces with Waltham Forest Council, they successfully demonstrated to a Public Inquiry that the venue could be reinvented as a new theatre for live performance, with a focus on comedy, panto and theatre. This led to the church’s planning application being decisively rejected for the final time.
UCKG sold the building on to pub chain Antic in 2014, who briefly ran the bar Mirth, Marvel and Maud, opening up the magnificent historic foyer to the public for the first time in over 10 years. Having continued to develop the vision and detailed plans, Soho Theatre reached an agreement with Waltham Forest Council to operate the venue, and in 2019 Waltham Forest Council, in partnership with Soho Theatre, purchased and invested into the restoration of the former Granada Grade II* listed building as part of the council’s London Borough of Culture 2019 legacy commitment. They have worked with design architects Pilbrow E Partners, developers Willmott Dixon Interiors and construction architects Bond Bryan Architects Ltd to design, renovate, refurbish and breathe new life into the historic building, alongside Soho Theatre. The Soho Theatre team inputted into operation, architecture (with support from Matthew Baker, Studio-M), design (with support from Jane Wheeler of JaneJaney Designs) and how to make the venture successful. Together they created a major new cultural hub for London at the heart of the local community of Waltham Forest.
Chair of Soho Theatre, Dame Heather Rabbatts DBE said: “It’s been an incredible journey for Soho Theatre. We’re a small theatre, always managing to creatively punch above our weight and with an impact that has been felt in TV, film and commercial theatre. The fantastic array of artists that we’ve worked with, together with our presence at Edinburgh Fringe, in India and elsewhere is testament to that. But we’re no longer a small theatre. Alongside the creative powerhouse that is our Dean Street home, we’ll be presenting world class artists to even larger audiences in our new and gloriously refurbished venue in Walthamstow, East London.”
Co-Executive Directors of Soho Theatre Walthamstow Mark Godfrey and Sam Hansford said: “With artists and audiences at its heart and a dynamic social enterprise ethos, Soho Theatre Walthamstow will create countless joyful, memory- making experiences for many people. Alongside the well-documented cultural, social, and wellbeing benefits, this investment in cultural infrastructure also delivers clear economic value – speaking directly to the wider priorities of culture- led growth and, through our international collaborations, to soft power gains. We’re incredibly grateful to the campaigners, to Waltham Forest Council, and to everyone who helped make this vision a reality. We can’t wait to welcome you in.”
Co-Chair of Soho Theatre Walthamstow Alessandro Babalola said: “As someone who was born and raised in this borough, who loves this place, it is an astounding feeling to be a part of bringing a theatre here. Soho Theatre Walthamstow is going to be sensational: a world-class venue rooted in its community, giving local people the chance to access live performance. It’s something I’ve wanted since I was a kid when having to travel to surrounding boroughs. That 13 year-old me would now have that opportunity with the best theatre right on my doorstep? You can imagine how happy I feel.”
Bill Hodgson, founder of the McGuffin Film Society which led the decade-long community campaign to save the venue for entertainment, and whose Waltham Forest on Film returns to its home venue in June, said: “The restoration of this beautiful building has exceeded all our expectations and richly rewards everyone who campaigned for so long to secure its future. The new Soho Theatre Walthamstow builds on the great live entertainment and cine-variety traditions of this place while giving them a thoroughly modern twist. I’m sure the new venue will quickly become as treasured by local people as the original was.”
Author Liz Hyder, recent winner of the Nero Book Award for Children’s Fiction, and one of the many campaigners from over the years said: “It really is a dream come true to see how the incredible restoration work has breathed new life into this unique building, transforming it into a welcoming venue for all the community. I can’t wait for its doors to be flung wide open for everyone to enjoy! So many people played a role over many years in helping to save the building and what better reward than for this jewel in Walthamstow’s crown to be shining bright once again? Wonderful!”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m delighted that Soho Theatre Walthamstow has breathed new life into this historic London venue. With a world- class comedy line up alongside a creative programme for the local community, the theatre is set to become a huge asset – not just for Walthamstow but London as a whole. It’s a fantastic legacy from Waltham Forest’s year as my very first London Borough of Culture, and an excellent example of the power of culture to transform areas and inspire communities.”
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council said: “We are thrilled, that after years of dedicated restoration, the former Granada Cinema building will soon reopen its doors as Soho Theatre Walthamstow this May! This exciting development promises to enrich our community with a diverse array of performances throughout the year. Beyond the stage, the team will continue to foster strong connections through community outreach, offering local job opportunities, dedicated spaces and special benefits for our residents and businesses. Together we look forward to creating a thriving place for everyone!”
Cllr Rosalind Doré, Cabinet member for Libraries, Culture and Sports and Leisure said: “We are delighted to announce the revival of our iconic venue, which embodies our vision from Waltham Forest as a vibrant ‘cultural neighbourhood’.
This investment not only enriches our community but also strengthens our commitment to creating an economy that benefits everyone. As part of the London Borough of Culture 2019 legacy, we are dedicated to placing culture at the heart of our borough, enhancing the local evening and night-time economy while supporting our businesses and residents.”
SOHO THEATRE WALTHAMSTOW: A BRIEF HISTORY OF 186 HOE STREET
1930 – THE GRANADA OPENS – A DRAMATIC, CINEMATIC SLICE OF SPAIN IN EAST LONDON
In September 1930, 186 Hoe Street became home to a new purpose-built cinema, with almost 2,700 seats, an orchestra pit and stage, and a formidable Christie organ playing before screenings.
Sidney Bernstein – media executive and founder of the Granada Group – was beginning to open up cinemas around the country. The building (designed by architect Cecil Masey) was inspired by the Moorish architecture of the 13th-century Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain, which Bernstein had visited and loved. The exotic Moorish and Spanish Baroque-influenced interiors were designed by groundbreaking Russian theatre director and designer Theodore Komisarjevsky – son of a Russian opera singer and a Lithuanian Princess. At the opening celebrations the ushers dressed in Spanish national costume. The venue was a multi-purpose cine-variety building bringing the glamour of 1930s Hollywood to Walthamstow, Alfred Hitchcock born locally and a close friend of Sidney Bernstein.
1950S – ANNUAL PANTO TIME (OH YES IT WAS!)
During the 1950s, the building put on pantomimes at Christmas-time including a production of Jack and the Beanstalk in 1952 starring Carry On’s Peter Butterworth and his wife Janet Brown.
1950S AND 60S: HOME TO ICONIC MUSICIANS, AND A COMMUNITY HEARTBEAT
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the Granada continued to screen films, but also grew as a live entertainment venue, hosting iconic music stars such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, The Ronettes, Johnny Cash, Duke Ellington, Little Richard, Cilla Black and Roy Orbison. To accompany this renaissance the building’s interiors were also redecorated to reflect the era – becoming a bold orange and brown. It wasn’t just a building, it was a heartbeat.
1973 TO 2000 – THE CINEMA EVOLVES – AND GOODBYE, GRANADA
The building’s cinema spaces kept moving with the times – including the dividing up of the space and addition of two smaller screens in 1973, to show multiple releases at once. This brought live performance in the main auditorium to an end. From 1989 to 2000 – an era where cinemas struggled – the cinema changed ownership several times, first passing from Granada to the Cannon Group, then to Virgin, then to ABC (then taken over by Odeon Theatres Ltd).
2000 – A BOLLYWOOD INTERLUDE
In 2000 Odeon sold the building to an independent operator, under the condition that it could not screen English language films. The independent operator renamed the cinema EMD and briefly ran the site as a specialist Bollywood venue; however, they found it challenging to sustain patronage.
2000-2003 – LOCAL CAMPAIGNS AND A FINAL FILM FLOURISH
Many local residents feared that the ban on English-language films could kill the cinema and an important community hub. So local residents, including Bill Hodgson’s McGuffin Film Society (named after a film device used by local Alfred Hitchcock), began campaigning with help from Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard, future Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy and many others. After several months of campaigning, Odeon relented and the owner was granted permission to screen all films again, with the EMD back in full operation.
A second formidable threat arrived in 2003, when the cinema was sold to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), an international evangelical megachurch. They purchased the building for around £3 million, without planning permission to convert it to a church. Despite a strong local campaign – which enlisted celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Meera Syal – the building closed as the EMD Cinema in January 2003. The final gig there organised by Bill Hodgson – including a film screening, a live variety show and a concert on the Christie organ – was a fond farewell, with audience members in tears.
2003-2013 – CHURCH V LOCAL CAMPAIGNS
The building fell into disuse while the UCKG repeatedly failed to get planning permission to convert it to a church. Local residents were determined not to lose this important cultural building. Again led by The McGuffin Film Society and joined in 2010 by Save Walthamstow Cinema led by Richard Ashman and Caramel Quin, the campaigning continued despite the ongoing closure. The empty venue fell into disrepair and was damaged by an illegal rave in 2003. Water damage was found after a further rave in 2011, with more extensive building damage only thwarted by the intervention of locals including Walthamstow’s MP Stella Creasy.
2009-2011 – A POLITICAL CHALLENGE BECOMES A PLAN
Seeking a way forward, Waltham Forest Council commissioned a report from consultants Locum to examine the viability of different uses for the building. This was published in 2010 and identified the potential of an alternative route as well as underpinning some important objectives: respect the building’s heritage, anchor Walthamstow’s regeneration, act as a community hub, be deliverable and sustainable.
Shortly before this, Mark Godfrey from Soho Theatre had moved to the area and connected with the campaign. A viable plan was required to reimagine the building as an entertainment hub. He brought experience of the £11m+ project to purchase, refurbish and successfully open Soho Theatre (Dean Street) in 2000. Mark co-founded a charitable trust Waltham Forest Cinema Trust (WFCT) alongside locals Neil Gerrard, who had recently stepped down as Walthamstow’s MP and became chair, theatre director Roxana Silbert, arts fundraiser James Atkinson and longtime campaigner Bill Hodgson and Toby Stone. Together with local people and businesses, they created a “vision document” in 2011, which proposed an exciting new future for the venue – a live performance programme with a world class comedy focus and local participation schemes, underpinned by a social enterprise business model and collaboration with Soho Theatre. This model did require capital investment in the building, but delivered wide public benefit without additional or ongoing revenue funding. This was achieved by identifying a gap in London for a dedicated midscale venue specialising in comedy, through self-generated income from associated FEB, and through leveraging greater value from Soho Theatre’s essential Arts Council funding and creative programme itself. Indeed, Arts Council played an important role by providing £15k risk funding which enabled us to move from back-of-an-envelope business planning, to engaging consultants and crucially giving Waltham Forest Cinema Trust and Soho Theatre the ability to demonstrate that the idea could generate funding and inward investment to the borough. This vision and plan was presented to the then council Leader Cllr Chris Robbins who agreed Waltham Forest Council would work with Waltham Forest Cinema Trust (WFCT) and Soho Theatre to help realise this positive plan, enlisting the Council’s then CEO Martin Esom who went on to play an important role in the future development of the plans. At the time this was all despite stubborn opposition from UCKG.
2012 – PUBLIC INQUIRY
After Waltham Forest Council repeatedly denied planning permission to UCKG, the government’s Planning Inspectorate held a Public Inquiry, with WFCT formally joining the Council as a ‘Rule 6 interested party’, to defend the planning decision and seek to demonstrate viability. The three-week hearing was intense, with witnesses examined and cross-examined by barristers from each party. UCKG argued that no one else could make the building viable. WFCT argued that they had the vision and business case to transform it into a vibrant entertainment venue with wider benefits that spoke to the Locum objectives. In spring 2013 the Inquiry announced – the Council and the Trust had won and this time it would prove to be decisive.
2013-2016 – A THEATRE AT RISK
UCKG had lost the Public Inquiry, but initially refused to give up the building. The Trust worked with the proactive and pragmatic national advice and advocacy body Theatres Trust (with comedian Dara Ó Briain as a Trustee), who in 2015 put the building formally on the Theatres at Risk Register, highlighting the heritage risk and increasing pressure on all to save it. The Waltham Forest Council and WFCT/ Soho Theatre began the process of Compulsory Purchase, but the UCKG sold the building to Antic, a pub chain. Antic re-opened the foyer of the cinema in 2016 as a bar, enigmatically named Mirth, Marvel and Maud. During this period Soho Theatre and the Council continued negotiations and scenario planning with Antic and their funders to find an innovative solution to enable the full building to be brought back into use in the new circumstances. Different schemes looked at how to fund the significant capital investment required, and what sort of returns and wider benefits such as investment could bring.
2017-2019 – BECOMING THE MAYOR OF LONDON’S FIRST BOROUGH OF CULTURE 2019, WITH
SOHO THEATRE WALTHAMSTOW PRESERVED AS A COMMUNITY CULTURAL ICON
Under the new Leader Cllr Clare Coghill, Waltham Forest Council further increased its focus on culture, with an ambitious bid to become the inaugural London Borough of Culture. Building on the partnership over the venue and from this, WFCT, Soho Theatre and the Council firmed up on an agreement. The Council committed to purchase the former Granada building and to invest in restoring it to its former glory to Soho Theatre’s specification, with Soho Theatre agreeing to operate and manage it as Soho Theatre Walthamstow for 40 years, independently but delivering benefits to local residents and the borough. Alongside these cultural and social benefits, there was a strong regeneration driver for the project, benefiting the local and late-night economy and job creation. Shortly after the purchase was announced with commendations to the Council from the Theatres Trust and others, Waltham Forest Council won its bid to become London Borough of Culture. The restoration of the building into a cultural hub, operated by Soho Theatre Walthamstow would be a key legacy project: an opportunity for the Council to preserve an important cultural space, cementing Walthamstow’s place on the cultural map, attracting inward investment and supporting wider regeneration. Work across the Council and Soho Theatre started in earnest to restore the beautiful building.
2019 – SHOWCASING THE START OF THE WORKS
Soho Theatre and Waltham Forest Council held an open day in 2019, designed to give the theatre local prominence once more and show off the first wave of restorations and renovations. Building tours ran all day, to show small groups of local people and press how the venue was coming back to life.
2020-2024 – CONTINUING THE PROJECT THROUGH COVID, LOCKDOWN AND BEYOND
A big and ambitious project was now underway, and both Soho Theatre and Waltham Forest Council knew there would be many challenges ahead. Of course what they did not know is that they would be facing these alongside the challenges of Covid and lockdown, and wider economic challenges. It is testament to the strength of their partnership and mutual belief in the project that it survived the darkest days of lockdown. All agreed not only to continue, but that post-lockdown renewal and joy that Soho Theatre Walthamstow would bring to the borough and beyond was even more important than ever.
Waltham Forest Council continued to plough on the restoration and construction work. The complexities of doing this with a Grade II* listed heritage building that had been empty for 20 years, and with the economic impact to all parties of lockdown cannot be overestimated. The team has had to deal with a number of uncertainties, delays and challenges. Over this period, Soho Theatre Walthamstow is established as the name, and a wide programme of community engagement work continues, embedding existing relationships within the borough. The social enterprise model for the venue is further refined; a governance model is established. Co-chairs Alessandro Babalola (also Soho’s Creative Associate) and Lucy Davies join the STW Board team alongside longer standing members of Soho Theatre’s charity trustee board including chair Dame Heather Rabbatts DBE, Nicholas Allott OBE and newer trustees with local connections including Lornette Harley and Farzana Baduel.
Sam Hansford, who has worked with Soho Theatre from 2013-2018 on the project, rejoins Soho Theatre Walthamstow to work alongside Mark Godfrey as joint Executive Director for STW and key members of the creative and communications team: Steve Lock (comedy), David Luff (theatre), Jessica Draper (creative engagement), Peter Flynn and Kelly Fogarty (communications), Bhavita Bhatt (partnerships), Lucy Oliver-Harrison (operations) and many more.
2025 – OPENING AS SOHO THEATRE WALTHAMSTOW,
100 YEARS OF HISTORY, REFLECTED INTO ITS FUTURE
The restoration is now due for completion, with the building’s 100-year history reflected into its now very bright future. The style of the refurbishment on show is “arrested decay” – with layers of the building’s history reflected in its restored and refurbished interiors – from the Spanish baroque and Moorish stylings of its 1930 cine-variety opening, through the browns and oranges of the 1960s music heyday, and now to state of the art facilities and Soho Theatre’s unique personality and brand. It is now not just a theatre but we hope a place the community will be proud of, providing great benefit to the borough, from employment and skills opportunities to economic growth to the night-time economy. It’s a fantastic building with a backstory of passion and persistence, faith and optimism that takes in so many people. We thank them all, starting with the original campaigners and through to Council Leader Cllr Grace Williams and Waltham Forest Council for taking the project through to completion, and giving this incredible building a new lease of life at the heart of its community.
Everyone at Soho Theatre Walthamstow looks forward to entering the next era with its opening in May 2025.
Alessandro Babalola, Rosie Jones, and Mark Godfrey inside the refurbished Soho Theatre Walthamstow on the day of the announcement of opening and program plans, Soho Theatre Walthamstow, London. Picture Date: 23rd January 2025. Photo Credit: © DavidJensen
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION
Bringing 186 Hoe Street back to life as Soho Theatre Walthamstow has given an incredible building a new lease of life, putting it at the heart of its community.
It’s been a big and ambitious project, restoring a Grade II* listed heritage building that had been empty for 20 years, and adapting it to suit Soho Theatre’s vision for its future. Both Soho Theatre and Waltham Forest Council knew there would be many complexities from the start of refurbishments in 2019 to the completion in 2025 – and along the way they met additional challenges, including several Covid lockdowns. But with passion and persistence, faith and optimism from so many people, from campaigners to Council leaders, the refurbished building opens in May 2025. And the restoration reflects the building’s 100-year history into its now very bright future.
The building works were carried out by Willmott Dixon Interiors, with Waltham Forest Council as client developer, and Soho Theatre in an advisory and design and brief consultative role as the eventual operator. There have been different design voices involved – including overall design architect Fred Pilbrow of Pilbrow E Partners who developed an initial design for the theatre and then worked with Soho Theatre and Waltham Forest Council in the earlier stages
of development. Then construction architect Bond Bryan as part of Willmott Dixon’s team, and architectural and interior design consultants Matthew Baker (Studio-M) and Jane Wheeler (JaneJaney Design) as part of Soho Theatre’s team. But the most important voice has been that of the building itself – with the layers of the venue’s past visible in its refurbished interiors, from the Spanish baroque and Moorish stylings of its 1930 cine-variety opening, through to the colours of the 1960s music heyday, and now to state of the art facilities and Soho Theatre’s unique personality and brand.
Just as Sidney Bernstein, Cecil Masey and Theodore Komisarjevsky in 1930 wanted to create something exotic, different and exciting, Soho Theatre Walthamstow has built on that theme. So throughout the building, the colours and textures evoke those of Theodore Komisarjevsky’s 1930 designs – bold, contrasting and Moorish- influenced.
The rich colours inside the new building are from Jane Wheeler’s interior designs and are informed by paint analysis, meticulously conducted by Historic England. Revealing how the walls looked across the eras, this gave the design team a colour palette to reflect the building’s evolution. From the 1930s original designs, there was a deep claret in the auditorium, and bright greens, reds, golds and bubble gum pink in the foyer. As a live music venue in the 1960s, the auditorium brought new dark reds and dark greens. Then in the 1990s there were lighter, brighter greens and yellows. And because the building had been so neglected in the past few decades – at the start of the renovation there was peeling paint, and visible layers of history – Soho Theatre also had a distinctive aesthetic to work with.
Rather than erasing this journey, Soho Theatre’s wish was to integrate it. Especially in the auditorium, the team embraced the philosophy of “arrested decay” – preserving the building’s historical layers where possible, allowing each layer to tell a story, and ensuring any necessary new elements complemented this style. The auditorium’s ceiling was preserved as much as possible, but full restoration wasn’t feasible. Instead, it was repainted with stippling techniques to add depth and texture, avoiding a flat, unnatural finish. The chandeliers fitted over 100 years ago were carefully removed, taken down, and meticulously restored by experts from Hall Conservation. Now fitted with energy efficient LED lighting, they blend historic charm with modern sustainability. An original motif from the arches was repeated in a bespoke carpet design.
Elsewhere in the building, original features have been brought back to life, with a modern twist. The patterns from the original striking mouldings, grills and walls have been incorporated into the new bar frontages – such as the “ziggurat” motif found in the ceiling mouldings, which is now seen in the stalls bar, named the Ziggurat Bar. Soho Theatre Walthamstow’s central idea was to choose design features informed and inspired by the 1930s and beyond, that resonate with modern sensibilities and Soho Theatre’s style. So they introduced distressed textiles and a playful Soho Theatre aesthetic throughout the venue. Bright colours, sequined fabrics, neon, and artwork inspired by previous Soho Theatre show posters pay homage to the company’s vibrant and eclectic legacy – complementing the original venue’s colour schemes, creativity and authenticity.
In fact, the Soho Theatre spirit meets heritage values as soon as guests enter the foyer. Neon lighting reinforces Soho Theatre’s signature aesthetic, while mirrored wallpaper highlights silver accents, tying the entire scheme together. And a striking mirrorball welcomes visitors in – its stunning reflections showing that this is a place to enjoy – as Bernstein and Komisarjevsky intended, and Soho Theatre are taking forward.
CREATING A DISTINCTIVE, ORIGINAL AND 21ST CENTURY EXPERIENCE FOR AUDIENCES AND PERFORMERS
As well as making the restored building aesthetically beautiful, there was the practical question of bringing a 2,200-seat venue back to life, now as a 960-seat theatre designed to give an audience and performers the best experience possible. Soho Theatre Walthamstow needed to be a flexible space that works for comedy above all, and engages the audience as much as possible – so the auditorium, stage and seating were all significantly reshaped. The number of seats in the stalls and circle was reduced, with each seat made bigger and more comfortable – with more leg room, a drink holder, and the right tilt angle to engage with the act on stage. The seating was raked – so that it sloped upwards from the stage – to give everyone an excellent view, with sight lines for engaging with a performer on stage, rather than looking at a cinema screen. The stage was also extended and the first five rows of seats were made aisle-free (“continental” in theatre terms), so that the artists on stage have a lovely solid audience to interact with.
So that performances have a stage with all possibilities, a fly tower has been added to facilitate more complex scenery and set design, and particularly to allow for a great panto or larger scale theatre. State of the art facilities for lighting, sound and projection have been installed, and the single dressing room has been replaced with a suite of beautifully equipped backstage spaces. There are also two new studios, to allow for performances and workshops of all shapes and sizes.
Accessibility is core to Soho Theatre Walthamstow – it’s a rare example of a Grade II* listed building where the bars, performance areas, backstage and tech rooms are all fully accessible. Soho Theatre Walthamstow has strived to meet the access needs of everyone who wants to visit, perform or work here. There are lifts and step-free access to all areas, as well as spacious staircases available for ease of movement. There are accessible loos on every floor of the building, including backstage for performers and backstage teams as well as a Changing Places toilet front of house. The design colours and style have been chosen with visually impaired people in mind, to ensure spaces aren’t overcrowded. Wheelchair spaces are clearly marked on the seating plan with a symbol. There are also a number of extra-room chairs available in the stalls, as well as seats with more generous legroom. Sustainability is a priority, and where possible Soho Theatre Walthamstow chose sustainable materials and methods, with as low as possible environmental impact.
So several areas use repurposed waste material rather than new – such as the bar cladding, which is made from recycled paper, and the bar tops, which are are terrazzo or conglomerate marble. All the lights in the theatre use LED technology, including the restored chandeliers and stage lighting. The entire building is heated and cooled using air source heat pumps – meaning outside air is used for heating and hot water, reducing environmental impact and cost. The latest technology is used to ensure lighting and heating automatically switch off in key areas, if they are not being used. Internal doors close automatically to keep heat loss at a minimum.
Washrooms are fitted with motion-sensor taps to avoid water waste, and with energy-efficient hand dryers. The number of WCs in the venue has been hugely increased with a mix of gendered and gender-neutral facilities across the building.
On the roof, there are photo-voltaic solar panels continually feeding electricity into the theatre’s electricity system – and feeding back excess power into the National Grid. At the back of the theatre, a vibrant living wall adds a contemporary touch to the period architecture. Designed with the local residents in mind, it enhances the space with lush greenery.
BIOGRAPHIES
SOHO THEATRE
Soho Theatre is London’s most vibrant producer for new theatre, comedy and cabaret. Our central London venue in Dean Street, opening in 2000, is established as one of the UK’s busiest with a buzzing bar, lively audiences and diverse year- round festival programme with a queer, punk, counter-culture flavour. In 2025 our second London venue Soho Theatre Walthamstow opens with first shows now on sale. Work extends beyond our venues with a full touring programme and strong international connections with New York, Melbourne and Mumbai. Edinburgh Fringe is a huge part of our year, we present many shows and scout hundreds more and we are the UK’s leading presenter of Indian comedians. Our filmed comedy specials can be seen on international airlines and online. And our artist development and participation programmes are as important as the work on our stages. Soho Theatre is a charity and social enterprise. Soho Theatre Walthamstow is a community interest company.
MARK GODFREY – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO
Within a collaborative leadership team, Mark oversees the business and organisational growth of Soho as a dynamic charity and social enterprise.
He co-led the original capital project to create Soho Theatre on Dean Street which opened in 2000 and has steered the company’s growth since including the development of Soho Theatre Walthamstow, Soho’s comedy and digital programmes and the company’s work with Indian and South Asian artists.
Previous roles include working at Oval House (now Brixton House), in marketing at Price Waterhouse and London Chamber of Commerce, co-owning a restaurant and deli operation in Walthamstow, and programming the RSC’s first comedy seasons in Stratford. He has sat on boards including DV8 Physical Theatre, Talawa, Synergy Theatre Project, Oval House, and co-founded Waltham Forest Cinema Trust, part of the grassroots campaign to save the former Granada.
SAM HANSFORD – CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Sam Hansford re-joined Soho Theatre in 2023 as Co-Executive Director Soho Theatre Walthamstow, working with Mark Godfrey to lead on the opening of the new venue. Sam was previously Executive Director at The Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick, and Executive Director and joint CEO at Mountview drama school in Peckham. Until 2018, Sam worked at Soho Theatre as Business Development Manager and played a key role in the development of Soho Theatre Walthamstow, working with Waltham Forest Council and local residents to develop plans for a live comedy and theatre venue, as well as leading on a new digital channel and partnerships in the UK and India.
(L-R) Sam Hansford and Mark Godfrey inside the refurbished Soho Theatre Walthamstow on the day of the announcement of opening and program plans, Soho Theatre Walthamstow, London. Picture Date: 23rd January 2025. Photo Credit: © DavidJensen
ALESSANDRO BABALOLA – CREATIVE ASSOCIATE AND CO-CHAIR SOHO THEATRE WALTHAMSTOW
Soho Theatre’s Creative Associate and Co-Chair of Soho Theatre Walthamstow (alongside Lucy Davies), Alessandro Babalola, is an Olivier award-winning actor, writer, director, musician and dramaturg, of Nigerian descent, born and raised in Leyton, East London. Alongside performing in Off West End plays and Fringe Theatre productions, including Olivier Award-winning ‘FLESH E BONE’ (National Theatre, Soho Theatre), Alessandro’s film and TV credits include short film ‘Samantha’s Choice’ (Cannes Film Festival 2016), ‘Top Boy’ (Netflix, Season 3), ‘Cursed’ (Netflix), ‘The Unforgotten’ (ITV) and Guy Ritchie’s films ‘Wrath Of Man’ (2021) and ‘The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ (2024). He has also written and directed four plays.
WALTHAM FOREST COUNCIL
Waltham Forest successfully became the Mayor of London’s first-ever London Borough of Culture in 2019. It is home to an abundance of culture, creativity, and enterprise – including the award-winning William Morris Gallery; the state-of-the- art fountains and gardens at Fellowship Square, home to The Arch sculpture by Henry Moore; the creative hub of Blackhorse Lane; the internationally recognised nature reserve, Walthamstow Wetlands and the Grade II* Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge, now a museum. Waltham Forest offers an enviable 30% of green and outdoor spaces. As part of the council’s London Borough of Culture 2019 legacy commitment, to place culture at the heart of its communities, Waltham Forest Council invested in the restoration and revival of the Grade II* listed former Granada Cinema building. Soho Theatre Walthamstow will manage the transformed venue on a long-term partnership agreement, focusing on delivering on the promise of a local theatre with a national profile. The iconic venue is at the core of the council’s vision for Waltham Forest to become a ‘cultural neighbourhood’ in the wider London landscape and delivers on the council’s missions to build an economy that works for everyone and to make the borough a great place to live. The council worked closely with specialists from Historic England to ensure that the former Granada, one of the best surviving examples of Spanish-Arabic architecture in the country, would be restored to its full glory, sensitively and respectfully. Historic England’s Repair Grants for Heritage at Risk scheme supported the restoration project. It successfully obtained loans from The Mayor’s Energy Efficiency Fund to enable the upgrade and design of the venue into an energy efficient theatre. Together with a grant from the GLA’s Carbon Offset Fund providing advanced lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to keep energy consumption low.
HISTORIC ENGLAND
Historic England is a public body that helps people and organisations to care for, enjoy and celebrates England’s historic environment, by: Championing historic places, Identifying and protecting our heritage, Supporting change, Understanding historic places, and Providing expertise at a local level.
Waltham Forest Council worked closely with specialists from Historic England to ensure that the former Granada Cinema building, one of the best surviving examples of Spanish-Arabic architecture in the country, would be restored to its full glory, sensitively and respectfully. In addition, Historic England provided additional support through the Repair Grants for Heritage at Risk scheme. During the planning phases, the council consulted extensively with local residents, businesses and community groups in developing the plans for the venue, which respect the heritage, architecture and design of the building.
THE MAYOR OF LONDON’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUND (MEEF)
MEEF was set up to support the delivery of low carbon, sustainable projects and infrastructure in London to help tackle the climate emergency. It supports projects that deliver new low carbon technology or upgrade existing infrastructure to help achieve the Mayor’s ambition to make London net zero by 2030. These include making buildings and infrastructure more energy efficient and ensuring they
are supplied with clean sources of heat and power and supporting low carbon transport in the capital. The fund was established by the Mayor with funding from the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Amber Infrastructure. It works by providing flexible and competitive financing to enable new or retrofit projects to adopt low carbon technologies or upgrade existing low carbon infrastructure.
Waltham Forest Council successfully applied for a loan to support the upgrade and design of the former Granada Cinema building into energy efficient theatre venue, including measures to offset emissions during construction. Improvements such as energy-efficient heating, insulation, solar panels and modern building management systems.
GLA’S CARBON OFFSET FUND
The Greater London Authority’s Carbon Offset Fund supports and allows businesses and organisations, including local authorities to “offset” their greenhouse gas emissions by investing in projects that either reduce emissions or store carbon. Waltham Forest Council was able to obtain a grant to help provide advanced lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems and extra insulation, to keep energy consumption low. Other measures deployed include the use of eco-friendly materials like reclaimed wood and low volatile organic compound paints, these contribute to fewer emissions than regular solvent-based paints.
WILLMOTT DIXON INTERIORS
Waltham Forest Council has worked with developer Willmott Dixon Interiors on the restoration and build. Willmott Dixon Interiors are part of Willmott Dixon; a privately-owned contracting and interior fit-out group. With a diverse and wide-ranging mix of expertise and experience, Willmott Dixon Interiors deliver nationwide projects across the Health, Commercial, Leisure, Education, Secured Environments and Science E Technology sectors. We create value for customers, stakeholders and communities by working in a sustainable and responsible way to shape the built environment and make a positive impact to society’s wellbeing.
PILBROW AND PARTNERS
Pilbrow E Partners are a 70-strong London-based architectural studio founded in 2013 with a particular interest in cultural, civic and community design. The Soho Theatre in Walthamstow draws on the practice’s expertise in the areas of heritage, sustainability, regeneration and performance design.
The practice’s other notable projects include proposals for the former Museum of London site developed on behalf of the London Symphony Orchestra and Yoo Capital, the Phase 5 ENT Hospital for UCLH (NLA Health E Care Award in 2015), The Kensington Building (BCO London Retrofit of the Year in 2023), MES’ new flagship store next to Selfridges and Edge London Bridge, which will be London’s most energy-efficient office building when complete in 2026.
JANE WHEELER DESIGN
Jane Wheeler is one half of design partnership JaneJaney, a collaboration with Janey Gardiner. Separately and together, they transform spaces for performance and for venues. Their background is as Set and Costume Designers working for over 15 years with the likes of the Royal Opera House, Brighton Festival, Latitude Festival and Secret Cinema. As designers for performance their specialism is site specific work, reimagining unusual spaces – an historic building, a warehouse, an outdoor space – into temporary settings for a piece of theatre, dance, opera or an event. This experience has placed them well to do the same for permanent environments. Most recently Jane worked as Design Associate for Soho Theatre overseeing the ‘look and feel’ of a derelict 1930s cine-variety venue in Walthamstow, evolving it into a comfortable 960-seater comedy theatre along with three bars, a cafe and a studio space. Essentially they work with the fabric of any space, and help whoever needs to inhabit it, realise their vision. And as artists who visually storytell, they inject heart and soul into every project, creating spaces that people love. Alongside they teach and work on community engagement projects. Jane is also a scenic artist and has worked for Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Glyndebourne, Almeida, Headlong, VEA, Museum of London, Chanel, Amazon and Netflix.
LISTINGS
2nd – 10th May: Natalie Palamides: WEER
In the top ten comedy shows for 2024 (Guardian, Telegraph, Times, Chortle), Natalie Palamides’ tour-de-force WEER comes to Soho Theatre Walthamstow for a strictly limited run. Following its smash-hit sell-out runs in Edinburgh and at Soho Theatre, Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner Natalie Palamides (Nate, Netflix) presents an achingly tender 90s rom-drom (romantic dramedy) which asks you to look at every argument from two sides. ★★★★★ Telegraph
16th May: Ahir Shah: ENDS
Ahir Shah brings the Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning ENDS to Soho Theatre Walthamstow as part of his UK tour: a show about family, immigration, marriage, history, politics, and beans. His previous Fringe show, 2019’s Dots, is now a special on HBO Max, and he just launched the special of ENDS on Netflix in September 2024. As seen on Mock the Week, The Mash Report, QI, Live at the Apollo, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Have I Got News For You, and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. ★★★★★ Guardian
17th May: Mark Watson: Before It Overtakes Us
Walthamstow local, multi-award-winner and Radio 4 favourite Mark Watson launches his new tour at Soho Theatre Walthamstow, marking 20 years in stand-up with a brand-new show based on a recent encounter with a stranger that caused Mark to spend some time pondering the uncertain future facing humanity. ★★★★★ Daily Telegraph
21st May: Barnes Children’s Lit Festival
Soho Theatre Walthamstow opens its doors to the UK’s largest dedicated children’s literature festival. This free event from 10am to 2pm is for pupils at state maintained primary schools and features former Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, award-winning author Serena Patel and co-creator of the mega-hit Supertato series, Paul Linnet.
21st May: Dara O’Briain: Re:Creation
Dara will be bringing his new tour show to Soho Theatre Walthamstow for one night only after the huge international success of his last tour, ‘So, Where Were We?’ which sold out 173 venues across 20 countries and was named UK Comedy Tour of the Year 2023 (Chortle). Dara’s new show Re:Creation sees one of Ireland’s finest live comedians back doing his favourite thing: standing in a theatre, telling stories and creating madness with the audience.
22nd May: Kiell Smith-Bynoe & Friends: Kool Story Bro
Star of Taskmaster and Ghosts Kiell Smith-Bynoe is joined by an all–star cast of comedians and a very special guest host to turn stories from the audience into completely improvised comedy scenes. Kiell will be joined by members of Kool Story Bro’s rotating cast of improvisers, which includes Starstruck favourites Lola-Rose Maxwell and Nic Sampson, Afterlife and Austentatious’s Graham Dickson, Big Boys’ Robert Gilbert, Mock The Week’s Emily Lloyd-Saini, Shadow and Bone‘s Anna Leong-Brophy, Taskmaster’s Emma Sidi, and many more.
23rd May: Josh Johnson
Josh Johnson brings The Flowers Tour to Soho Theatre Walthamstow for his first ever UK show. With nearly 4 million followers across his social media, Josh Johnson was recently called “the funniest guy on the internet” by WIRED and is a star on the rise. He is an Emmy-nominated writer, stand-up comedian, actor, and NAACP award-winner from Louisiana by way of Chicago. Johnson is currently a correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy & Peabody Award-winning program The Daily Show where he was previously a writer for the past seven years.
24th May: Tifo Live
Join the cast of the Tifo Football Podcast for one night only at the Soho Theatre Walthamstow. Joe Devine, Seb Stafford-Bloor, JJ Bull & Jon Mackenzie will be recording the podcast live and in person on stage, looking ahead to the Premier League and Champions League finales, presenting a few set pieces, and taking some all-important questions from the audience.
28th and 29th May: John Early: The Album Tour
John Early brings The Album Tour to Soho Theatre Walthamstow for his biggest ever London shows. His HBO stand up special, Now More Than Ever, was released to critical acclaim in June 2023 and was nominated for a Critic’s Choice Award and Emmy Award. John was also nominated for an Emmy award for his A24 sketch special Would it Kill You To Laugh co-created with his frequent collaborator Kate Berlant. John has also produced a revival of Wallace Shawn’s Marie and Bruce and directed Jacqueline Novak’s hit off-Broadway show Get On Your Knees.
30th May, 27th June, 25th July: Neon Nights
Neon Nights is Soho Theatre’s brand-new showcase spectacular featuring some of the comedy world’s most exciting names.
The first iteration of their flagship line-up show, hosted by Thanyia Moore (Live At The Apollo) is headlined by Sara Pascoe (Taskmaster, QI and Live At The Apollo) and features Rosie Jones (Live At The Apollo, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown), three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Larry Dean (Live At The Apollo, Royal Variety Performance), Tom Davis (Murder in Successville) and two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee Janine Harouni (The Russell Howard Hour).
The second Neon Nights show, hosted by Edinburgh Comedy Award 2024 nominee Catherine Bohart (Live At The Apollo, Trusty Hogs), will be headlined by Phil Wang (star of Taskmaster, Have I Got News For You and two Netflix specials) and features Olga Koch (Live At The Apollo, QI), Jin Hao Li (Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee), Sindhu Vee (Live At The Apollo, QI) and Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee Josh Pugh (Live At The Apollo).
The third Neon Nights show hosted by Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Ania Magliano (Live At The Apollo) will have Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Show winner Sam Campbell (Taskmaster, Would I Lie To You) headlining, with spots from Slim (Live at the Apollo, The Russell Howard Hour), Jessica Fostekew (Live At The Apollo, QI), Desiree Burch (Have I Got New For You, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order), and Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer Winner Urooj Ashfaq.
4th and 5th June: Tim Minchin: Songs the World Will Never Hear
Get ready for an evening packed with unforgettable songs and stories, as Tim Minchin looks back on how a Perth cabaret pianist ended up building one of the most eclectic and extraordinary careers in entertainment. Delivered with his signature blend of razor-sharp wit, musical virtuosity, and disarming honesty, the set list will draw from three decades of unique songwriting.
From comedy classics to tear-jerking Christmas songs… from boobs to existentialism… from fast fingering to free will… there’s nothing quite like an evening in the company of Tim Minchin.
6th June: The Tiger Lillies: Soho songs
The world’s foremost neo-Brechtian-post-punk-falsetto-squeezebox-gypsy-cabaret-three-piece band takes up residence at Soho Walthamstow for one night only with a Soho-themed show drawing on frontman Martyn Jacques‘s life in the neighbourhood in the ’80s – gangsters and working girls, late-night boozers and drugs, friends past and present. Double Olivier award winners, their shows are dark, peculiar and varied, with moments of black humour and immense beauty. This unique, Brechtian Street opera trio tour the world playing concerts and theatre shows such as their new show A Macbeth Song, The Ancient Mariner and the West End hit Shockheaded Peter. ★★★★★ The Guardian
7th June: CHRISTEENE
A triumphant return to Soho Theatre for one of Soho’s all-time classic artists- the peerless CHRISTEENE – in an all new, powerfully imagined theatrical backed by band and dancers. The artist has collaborated with, as well as performed with, numerous acclaimed musicians, including Faith No More, Peaches, Fever Ray, John Grant, Kembra Pfahler, Suicide, Roddy Bottum, Tribe 8, Narcissister, Marc Almond, Bronski Beat, and Justin Vivian Bond. Longtime collaborators include award winning filmmaker PJ Raval, along with iconic fashion designer Rick Owens and artist Michèle Lamy.
14th June: Sarah Keyworth: My Eyes Are Up Here
Sarah Keyworth will be bringing their Melbourne International Comedy Award Winning and Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominated show My Eyes Are Up Here to Soho Theatre Walthamstow next summer. My Eyes Are Up Here sees Keyworth reflect on the past year of turning 30, being diagnosed with ADHD and having top surgery as they go home for the first time post-surgery to celebrate their mum’s own milestone birthday. Sarah has appeared on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, ITV’s The Stand Up Sketch Show and Comedy Central’s Roast Battle. Their BBC Radio 4 show Are You A Boy or A Girl is available to stream on BBC Sounds. ★★★★★ Daily Telegraph
26th June: Dale Elliott
Jamaican-born comedian Dale Elliott Jr. brings his highly anticipated Son Of An Immigrant World Tour to Walthamstow for his biggest London show to date. Drawing from his experience as a child left behind while both parents ventured to “foreign,” Elliott masterfully weaves cultural expectations, identity shifts, and the perpetual quest for validation into sharp, relatable humour.
28th June – 26th July: Waltham Forest On Film
The McGuffin Film Society returns to its home venue after a 22 year absence… with a special two-day film festival celebrating Waltham Forest’s contribution to the world of cinema – from the 1800s to the present day.
3rd – 5th July: Kiki & Herb are TRYING
Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman bring their acclaimed act, Kiki and Herb back to London for the first time since 2007.
Featuring their trademark mix of hilariously dark stories and fabulously offbeat covers and medleys. The New York cabaret legends descend upon Soho Theatre, Walthamstow for three nights only.
11th – 12th July: Justin Vivian Bond: Sex with Strangers
An evening of song and poetry for, by, and about the outrageously gorgeous and mythical icon of dissolute glamour, Marianne Faitfull.
Last year as part of the fabled NYC cabaret venue Joe’s Pub’s 25th anniversary season, multi-disciplinary artist and downtown darling Mx Justin Vivian Bond presented an evening of song and poetry for, by, and about the outrageously gorgeous, mythical icon of dissolute glamour: singer/ songwriter Marianne Faithfull who rose to fame in the 1960s and went on to become an eternal muse to countless artists in the music, literary, and fashion worlds.
18th – 19th July: On Cinema Live with Tim Heidecker & Gregg Turkington
Alt-comedy legends Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington bring the live version of their web series and podcast On Cinema to the UK for the first time. A comedic cinematic universe, a grand satire of America itself–Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington’s On Cinema has built a dedicated cult following as a sprawling comedic soap opera masquerading as a disastrous movie review show. On Cinema was named by SPIN as one of the “30 Great TV Shows That Defined The 2010’s”
1st – 2nd August: Reggie Watts: Live at Soho Theatre Walthamstow
“The most influential absurdist in comedy today” (New York Times) and star of The Late Late Show comes to Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
Reggie Watts is an internationally renowned musician/comedian/writer/actor who most recently starred as the bandleader on CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Using his formidable voice, looping pedals, and his vast imagination, Watts blends and blurs the lines between music and comedy, wowing audiences with performances that are 100% improvised.
29th – 30th August: Biswa Kaylan Rath
After multiple sell-out runs at Soho Theatre Dean Street, join Biswa Kalyan Rath for his biggest ever London shows at Soho Theatre Walthamstow. Biswa is diving deep into the labyrinth of the English language, love and marriage (yes they are separate and you will know why!) and a little bit of cross-border curiosity. From the hip lingo of South Bombay’s elite to the peculiar quirks of English words, Biswa’s sharp wit and observational humour will have you laughing until your sides ache, with the same intensity of how Mumbaikars heads ache while hunting for flats. And as if that weren’t enough, he’ll also tackle the delicate dance of negotiating with your spouse on daily chores and the bureaucratic maze that a govt office is. Performed in Hindi
4th September: Stamptown
A raunchy, chaotic and full-on fringe experience, Stamptown is a late-night variety show featuring the best alternative performance on the international scene. Hosted by the bad boy of clown, Zach Zucker, Stamptown has packed out shows at Edinburgh Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Glastonbury and Off-Broadway in New York City. Each night features special guests drawn from a line-up including: Viggo Venn, Stevie Martin, Kemah Bob, Sikisa, Flo & Joan, Elf Lyons, Olga Koch, Séayoncé, Natalie Palamides, Steffen Hanes, Erin Farrington, Marshall Arkley, Ryley Clement, Cirque Alfonse, Huge Davies, Leo Reich, BriTANicK, Annabel Marlow, Martin Urbano, Mark Silcox and more. ★★★★ Guardian
5th September: Jack Tucker
The bad boy of clown, Jack Tucker, brings his award-winning comedy to Walthamstow! A legend on the Upstate New York comedy scene, Tucker is a comedian’s comedian, juggling a crumbling marriage, a disappointed son, and relentless loan sharks—all while doing whatever it takes to make you laugh. If the joke doesn’t land, it’s not because it isn’t funny – you just didn’t get it. Having sold out shows in cities like New York, London, and Mumbai with 498 walkouts worldwide, this critically acclaimed act by Zach Zucker, directed and co-devised by Jonny Woolley, is a must-see. ★★★★★ Entertainment Focus
6th September: Rahul Dua
One of the leading stand-ups in India will be performing at Soho Theatre Walthamstow for his biggest UK show to date. He is a comedian, actor, writer, creator & has been seen as a host in SharkTank India’s Seasons 2 & 3 and Comicstaan 3. Rahul has toured over 25 countries, sold over 100,000 tickets worldwide, worked with over a 100 brands and he boasts a community of over 800K on IG and over a million on YT. Please note this show will be performed in Hindi.
9th – 13th September: Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come (Again)
Award-winning and groundbreaking BBC Sounds podcast and Dean Street favourites Brown Girls Do It Too will be bringing their trademark honesty, quick wit and infectious personalities to Walthamstow in September. Poppy and Rubina reflect on what it means to be Brown British women and explore the seminal moments from their lives from first orgasms and loves to racism and family politics. With songs, sketches and some very graphic content, this is a celebration of brown British women, genital warts and all. ★★★★ Evening Standard
27th September: Adam Riches and John Kearns ARE ‘Ball and Boe’
Baubles. Banter. Bromance. Ballads.
It’s the Christmas show you’ve all been waiting for (in September).The show that takes two titans of the light entertainment industry; two icons of the theatre world; two award-winning behemoths of the modern age…and brings them together to play Michael Ball and Alfie Boe.
For the first time ever, Edinburgh Comedy Award winners Adam Riches and John Kearns team up to become one of music’s most bangable duos, for a once in a lifetime yuletide extravaganza guaranteed to have you doublechecking exactly what list Santa put you on for this to happen.
3rd October: Suzi Ruffell: The Juggle
One of the UK’s finest stand-ups and a Soho regular, Suzi Ruffell (Live at the Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, The Last Leg and QI.) brings The Juggle to us as part of her UK tour. It’s hard to be good all the time. A good mother, a good daughter, a good partner, a good friend, a good person. To be ambitious but not ruthless; a success but not a sell-out. A gentle parent but not a pushover. To be smashing life and make it look easy. The juggle. Suzi is exhausted and she hasn’t even started. This is a stand-up show and a support group! ★★★★ Evening Standard
9th – 25th October: Bog Witch by Bryony Kimmings
Bryony Kimmings was wrangled enough. Single mum, sick kid, slammed with work, terrible anxiety barely keeping it together…she didn’t have time to think about the planet, thanks. But then she fell in love with an eco-warrior and all hell broke loose. In Kimmings’ first show for nearly half a decade, Bog Witch is a show about uncertain times and finding new ways to be happy, commissioned and created to celebrate the opening of Soho Theatre Walthamstow. Previously at Soho Theatre, Bryony Kimmings award-winning and critically acclaimed shows Fake it ’til You Make It, Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model, Seven Day Drunk and Sex Idiot. ★★★★★ Guardian
1st November: Penguin Cafe Performs Music from The Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2025 sees Penguin Cafe bringing the music of the legendary Penguin Cafe Orchestra back to life, with UK dates featuring a collection of PCO classics, celebrating the unique sound that has captivated audiences worldwide. To coincide with this revival, six original PCO albums are being re-released on vinyl for the first time since their initial pressings, courtesy of [INTEGRAL] / Universal Music Recordings at the end of 2024 and will be available to buy at live shows.
5th November: Jon Ronson’s Psychopathic Night 2025
Following a box-office busting, sell-out tour in 2024, Jon Ronson’s Psychopath Night comes to Soho Theatre Walthamstow.What happens when a psychopath is in power? Could you learn to spot a psychopath? Are you working for a psychopath? Is there a little bit of psychopath in all us? Join Jon in 2025 for another electrifying journey into the enigmatic world of psychopaths and the perplexing concept of normalcy. In an age where society’s rationality is called into question, Jon will deliver an evening of incisive inquiry, seasoned with his trademark wit and profound insights.
8th November: Josie Long – Now Is The Time Of Monsters
A new show from multiple Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominated Josie Long about extinct gigantic, charismatic, megafauna. Coming to Walthamstow in November, Josie will bring her distinctive warmth and charm to discuss discovery, wonder, extinction and how to walk through a landscape of monstrous disaster. ★★★★ Guardian
11th November: Talk of the Devils Podcast Live
The world’s biggest Manchester United podcast, brought to you by The Athletic, is back again with a brand-new show. Join Laurie Whitwell, Carl Anka, Andy Mitten, and Ian Irving as they deliver unparalleled insight from inside Old Trafford. Expect fresh stories – heard for the first time – that you won’t hear on the regular podcast, plus the chance to get answers to all your questions on United.
13th – 15th November: Un-Royal Variety Silver Jubilee – 25 years of Soho
It’s been seven years since alt-drag megastar Jonny Woo unleashed this beast of a show and now it has a new home, Soho Theatre Walthamstow, a spectacular restoration of an historic music venue, where for three consecutive nights the lovely new roof will be officially raised with gasps, laughs and roars of un-adulterated joy. Woo curates and hosts this glorious punk pastiche of the classic ‘Royal Variety’ with a rocking in-house band, a dazzling dance troupe and a line-up of some of the best and wildest acts from Soho Theatre’s stella rostra of acts and Woo’s own gaggle of brilliant collaborators. Previous guests on the ‘Un-Royal’ bill have included: Adrienne Truscott, CHRISTEENE, Mawaan Rizwan, Myra Dubois, Leah Shelton, Pete and Bambi, Jayde Adams, Lucy McCormick, Diane Chorley, La Gateau Chocolat, Lavinia Co-Op, Freida Slaves and Bourgeois & Maurice.
21st – 22nd November: Adam Kay: UNDOCTORED
Bestselling show of Edinburgh Fringe 2023. The nation’s twelfth-favourite doctor brings his brand new show on tour, fresh from a record-breaking run at the Edinburgh Fringe and a sell-out season in the West End. This is Going to Hurt was a literary sensation, selling three million copies and becoming a multi-BAFTA-winning BBC series. Undoctored follows on from This is Going to Hurt, leaving audiences laughing and crying with Adam’s unique tales of life on and off the wards. It also contains the ‘degloving’ story because people ask for refunds if they don’t hear it. ★★★★ Evening Standard
Winter 2025/ 26 – Soho Theatre pantomime: Aladdin & The Magic Lamp
Soho Theatre presents the first ever annual pantomime at Soho Theatre Walthamstow, Aladdin & The Magic Lamp. This modern retelling of the pantomime you know and love, set in the Walthamstow you know and love, with all the mayhem and magic, wise-cracking genies, mischievous monkeys, soul funk music and heroic adventure your heart’s desire! Written and directed by the award-winning actor, director, writer and Panto legend Susie McKenna.