Wardrobe Theatre to move to Old Market

Kingsdown’s thriving fringe theatre The Wardrobe Theatre is collaborating with the team behind The Canteen and No. 1 Harbourside to create a new space for theatre, comedy, food, drink, music and much more in Old Market – with roughly twice the Wardrobe’s current capacity.

The Wardrobe plans to move to its new home – a former bank on West Street that has most recently hosted Hoochie Coochie’s cabaret events, and before that the nightclub Flamingos – later this year, and to open to punters in December.

“We’ve had four amazing years above The White Bear pub on St Michael’s Hill but the time feels right to move on,” explain co-directors Jesse Meadows, Matthew Whittle and Chris Collier. “None of our achievements in establishing a thriving theatre there would have been possible without the kindness and support of The White Bear team, and we are immensely proud of what we were able to accomplish in our time there.

“However, we need a larger space with year-round access to match our ambitions as a venue. The chance to collaborate with the team behind The Canteen and No.1 Harbourside – two very successful and ethically-guided Bristol-based bars – was too good an opportunity to pass up.”

As well as having twice the capacity of the current theatre, having full creative ownership of the space means that Jesse, Matthew and Chris can programme shows seven days a week – as well as programming more daytime shows and workshops, booking in rehearsal space and more.

“It also means we will be able to put on more drama, stand-up comedy, new writing, puppetry, comedy theatre, improvisation, work-in-progress, family shows, performance art, music, spoken word/poetry and cabaret than ever before,” the three co-directors tell us. “We will continue to live by our core ethos of programming exciting, diverse events, supporting local artists and companies, and remaining accessible to audiences.

“We are also excited to be able to create job opportunities and breathe life and culture into a much neglected area of Bristol, and a long under-used building. Rejuvenation through the arts has worked very effectively in Bristol in the past and could work again for Old Market.”

The new space is due to open by December 2015 – but to get there the Wardrobe team need everyone’s help in fundraising £70,000. The new building needs structural work to make it suitable for use, including new interior walls, plumbing and electrics, plus new lighting and sound equipment, staging and seating.

“We’ve been in lengthy discussions with the team behind The Canteen and No.1 Harbourside for several months to secure the building and we are delighted to be finally announcing this new collaboration. This is a long-term project for both of our organisations with no end in sight. This will be a permanent new arts space for Bristol.”

“The Wardrobe Theatre has become an essential venue for emerging talent and new ideas,” comments Ali Robertson, director of Tobacco Factory Theatres. “I think if they can move to a more fit-for-purpose venue, Bristol’s whole theatre scene will feel massive benefits.”

Callum Mitchell, co-director of regular Wardrobe visitors, Bristol’s Silly Boys, adds: “It is hugely important that The Wardrobe Theatre secure their new venue. British theatre desperately needs independently-run, interesting, non-elitist spaces that take risks in their programming and are run by people with a real passion for what they’re doing.” 

For full details of the project and information on how to get involved and/or donate, visit www.helpbuildthenewwardrobetheatre.com

Pictured above: Wardrobe Theatre shows Muppits Die Hard, A Little Nonsense (pic: Kitty Wheeler Shaw) and The Star Seekers.