Since 2011, a few local volunteers have dedicated a considerable amount of time and their own money to not only restore the long-forgotten and historic Romford War Memorial buildings on Eastern Road but open the Brookside Theatre, Romford's first and only community arts venue. This award-winning theatre is entirely self-funded and voluntarily run.

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the theatre has had to close its doors and, in doing so, lost 100% of its income. Cancelled events have resulted in the theatre being required to refund thousands of pounds. Recently appealing to Havering Council for assistance, an email was sent by the council's Chief Operating Officer, Mrs Jane West to a local Councillor stating; “It is a bit frustrating that the Theatre appear to remain of the view that the Council should simply fund all their requirements and constantly hold their hands. It’s not just our residents who we need to encourage to become more self-reliant over time.” From the council's website, it would appear that part of Mrs West's job is to promote arts within the borough. The council do not and have never funded the theatre and most certainly never "held the theatre's hands" in any way whatsoever and after nearly a decade it is quite safe to say that the theatre was incredibly "self-reliant" until the pandemic. 

In addition, a technicality has meant that the theatre are not entitled to all of the Local Restrictions Support Grants purely because the property is rated as a "Hall and Premises", a category that is not supported, while "Theatre and Premises" and "Club and Premises" are. Surely this is just a matter of semantics but one that Onesource - the company responsible for allocating these grants - are unwilling to overlook.

The theatre has also applied to the Arts Council for financial assistance but been turned down. In the first instance, this was because the theatre was neither a charity nor a limited company. Now, having received charity status at the end of last year, the theatre has been turned down once again as it cannot provide two years worth of accounts as a registered charity, despite the fact that it does have account spanning almost a decade. Surely however, neither of these facts make the Brookside Theatre any less of a theatre in need of help? And should the history of the theatre, its popularity and success not be the deciding factors when the Arts Council consider who is deserved of a Culture Recovery grant?

We are hoping that, with your support, the London Borough of Havering and possibly Arts Council England, can appreciate just how much the Brookside Theatre has become and integral part of the community and step up and offer their support now - and in the future - before it's too late.