THE CURTAIN is ready to go up on a new chapter at Stratford Play House.
Renamed Stratford Community Venue, it is set to reopen its doors in Rother Street with a full programme of live entertainment and community events – and a new operator at the helm.
New charity Rother Street Arts House, formed by Catherine Prout, Laura Ashfield, Hattie Human and John-Robert Partridge, has been appointed by Stratford Town Trust to run the much-loved venue, which was forced to close at the end of last year.
The team will take over from September with a focus on community events.
The search for a new operator was launched in February, with the opportunity advertised and promoted locally and nationally. The process attracted 19 initial expressions of interest and eleven tender submissions, including several strong proposals. These were assessed against a single set of clear criteria including experience, financial sustainability, and a commitment to prioritising community access and programming.
Stratford Town Trust chief executive Sara Aspley said: “We are confident this process has delivered the best possible outcome for this treasured local space and for the people who love and use it. As a hub for live entertainment, it means a great deal to the community – and the tender brief for the operator reflected that, with a requirement for meaningful community use alongside a commercially programmed calendar to help it thrive.”
Catherine Prout added: “We’re incredibly excited to be taking this wonderful community space into its next chapter. Knowing how loved it is as a centre piece of the community we are dedicated to maintaining and building on its legacy, ensuring it is a creative, inclusive space for everyone.”
Audiences can expect to see a mix of much-loved favourites and exciting new names in the months ahead.
Alongside this, plans are in development for an expanded community offer — with space for participatory events, and partnerships with schools, amateur companies and voluntary groups.
On Saturday October 4, the Rother Street Arts House will transform into Stratford’s Fun Palace, a community led event where local people can come together to share their skills, passions and interests.
The former operator of Stratford Play House gave its notice in December, leaving the venue’s future looking uncertain.
