It is London’s oldest and most celebrated pub theatre which has helped launch the careers of some of Britain’s biggest actors including Hugh Grant, Joanna Lumley and Richard E Grant.
But the curtain is set to fall over the King’s Head Theatre in Islington’s Upper Street as it prepares to move to a new home round the corner.
The charity running the theatre on Thursday announced the closure on August 13 of a venue that has entertained fans with an eclectic mix of cabaret, drag, comedy and more traditional plays and musicals for more than five decades.
To mark the historic move, a final “celebration gala” will be held with performers including Sherlock’s Mark Gatiss, Dame Janet Suzman and Le Gateau Chocolat, each reviving roles they played there over the years.
The new venue in Islington Square features a 200-seat auditorium and a 50-seat cabaret space. It is planned to open later this year with contractors already on site after planning permission for the move was granted last summer.
James Seabright, chair of the charity’s trustees, said “Next month we will bid a bittersweet farewell to London’s original pub theatre at 115 Upper Street, as work continues at the new King’s Head Theatre next door at Islington Square.
“The amazing opportunity for the charity to move into a new home that will stand it in good stead for the next five decades has been made possible by a dream team of partners.”
The theatre has over the years proved a breeding ground of new talent and helped launch the careers of Joanna Lumley, Hugh Grant, Richard E Grant, Steven Berkoff, Tom Stoppard and Victoria Wood.
Several of its productions have transferred to the West End including Mr Cinders, Wonderful Town, Artist Descending a Staircase, Vieux Carre and Coming Clean. In 2010, the theatre won an Olivier Award for Best New Opera for La Boheme. It also co-produced the immersive show Trainspotting Live which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.
The charity has simultaneously launched a dedicated production fund, called the Angels of Angel, which will support the theatre in commissioning and producing new work.
Inaugural donors will be offered the opportunity to “sponsor a stair” in the new theatre, each dedicated to a standout show from 53 years of the theatre’s history.
Senior producer Sofi Berenger said “It’s incredibly exciting to be looking towards the future of the new theatre, and the future of being able to produce new work on our stage through our Angels of Angel network.
“Our aim is to create a theatre space that can truly respond and react to artists and audiences, heralding in a new era post-pandemic.
“We are also making sure to look back, reflect, honour and celebrate everything and everyone that has made King’s Head Theatre one of the leaders of London’s Fringe and independent theatre for 53 years.”
