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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 25 April 2008

Theatre moves on from love goddess to Bacchus

SHOCK horror! Last year it was erotic love poems – this year the Little Angel Puppet theatre is seeking a licence to sell booze.
Neighbours are upset with an application to Islington council by the Little Angel to sell alcohol all year round.
Up until now the theatre, in Dagmar Passage, Angel, has been using temporary events notices which allow alcohol to be served a maximum of five times a year.
In March last year the theatre brought blushes with a performance for adults of Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis – a narrative poem about the goddess of love’s attempt to seduce a beautiful youth.
General manager Lynette Shanbury has asked for permission to sell drinks seven days a week until 11pm.
In a letter to the theatre’s neighbours, Ms Shanbury told residents: “The Little Angel Theatre does not want to become a pub. The calm and quiet character of this area is very important to us and we consider it of utmost importance to preserve it.”
She added: “As a venue that receives no revenue running costs from any source it is essential that we make use of appropriate opportunities to generate our own income, and a bar is a valuable income generating tool for most theatres.”
But neighbour Anne-Marie Cunnold said: “An extended licence has the potential to increase the incidence of inebriated adults and youths, throughout the daytime and evening, who may congregate on the large pavement outside the theatre or in the park.”
In a joint letter to the council’s licensing panel, six other residents said: “We already endure – with good grace – quite a lot of noise from audiences congregating in the open space, especially on warm summer evenings.
“The thought of this happening regularly before, during and after performances and on any night of the week – and alcohol fuelled – is totally unacceptable.”
The matter will be heard before Islington’s licensing panel at the Town Hall on Monday.

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