The opening of a new theatre in London, one which promises to give newcomers a chance, is rare and welcome news,' writes London's Independent newspaper.
As one of the capitals of the theatre world, some may think that London already has enough theatres. Not so, say Carol Henderson and Hugh Steadman Williams, two of the people behind the launching this autumn of First Floor Theatre, at the Westminster Theatre.
'The theatre world is sitting on a time-bomb,' says Williams, explaining that because of enormous and escalating production costs, few theatres are prepared to take the risk of putting on new plays. The result is that very little new material is being written. 'We are using the classics of the past, but where will the classics of the future come from?' he asks.
First Floor Theatre is aimed at a new generation of theatre goers who are used to less formality. Henderson, who was responsible for the project from the feasibility study onwards, sees it as an intimate environment that will foster creativity, through workshops, exhibitions and forums as well as performances.
The theatre's management is registered as a charity 'for the advancement of the Christian religion'. Henderson believes it is a chance for Christians to serve the wider community.
Perhaps it is fitting that the first season kicked off with Polly March's Beauty and the Bounders - the story of Lilian Baylis, who struggled against the odds to create another theatre, the Old Vic. The season will conclude with the first UK production of Nancy Ruthven's The Widening Gyre, a tale of two brothers in Northern Ireland - each with their own 'solution' to the country's problems.
Nancy Ruthven, who died in August, was one of the originators of First Floor Theatre.
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