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James Roose-Evans with Rula Lenska |
Theatre founder’s big idea!
Intimate new venue plan
WHILE the Hampstead Theatre celebrates its golden jubilee today (Thursday), its ebullient founder, James Roose-Evans, is about to launch a “small is beautiful” theatre in the West End – at the age of 82.
Mr Roose-Evans made the shock announcement to a celebrity audience in Fitzroy Square Gardens, Fitzrovia, as he celebrated the publication of his memoirs, Opening Doors and Windows, but refused to provide exact details of the new venture.
“How amazing,” Maureen Lipman, there alongside Sir Ian McKellen, Richard Wilson, Pauline Collins, Susan Hampshire, Rula Lenska, David Swift and other stars, told Roose-Evans.
“But what else is there to do when you’re 82 than start a new theatre in the heart of London?” he replied.
And he told the audience of nearly 100: “Next Thursday, as you will know, is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Hampstead Theatre. And I can think of no better way of celebrating this by starting a new ‘small is beautiful theatre’ here in the very heart of London. My colleagues in this venture are Charles Stephens, producer, and Norman Coates, designer. I hope at a press conference shortly to be able to give the details of this new theatre and also the details of its first season.
“My passion is for the small is beautiful. When the Hampstead Theatre began for seven years struggling financially with a small staff of seven of us, on minimal wages, we mounted 10 productions a year, late-night shows, Sunday night entertainments, and exhibitions in the foyer all based on the passion and vision of those of us working there. Small is beautiful. That is what we hope to reclaim in the heart of London.”
He added later: “I woke up one morning and as I came out of my meditation I knew that my next task was to found a new theatre.
“I just knew that this was what I had to do.I contacted Norman Coates first and together with Charles Stephens we have been working on the details for some months.
“We are in delicate negotiations about a venue at the moment and hope to announce something quite shortly.
“We have to because our first season is due to open in February.”
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