History
The Friends were launched in 1964 as “The Friends of Westminster Theatre” (with one of the founders being Ken Belden). The aim was to support the plays at the theatre and was expressed in these words: “To encourage the growth of character that is essential if civilisation is to survive.” For some 13 years the Friends raised money every Christmas for children’s homes from across the country to send parties to “Give a Dog a Bone”, the pantomime written by Peter Howard, and to the C.S. Lewis “Narnia” plays. The Friends also supported the “Day of London Theatre” programme for schools.
In 1999 they moved to their present home, the Barn Theatre at 24 Greencoat Place - a studio theatre where they continued their aims under the name “Friends of Westminster Productions”, arranging rehearsed play readings, concerts, lectures and other artistic events and continuing its regular newsletter. With the growth of Renewal Arts they changed its name to “Friends of Renewal Arts”. In December 2014 they celebrated the 50th anniversary and finally in January 2015 the Friends, including the events and newsletter were formally subsumed within Renewal Arts UK.
