Many people across West London were overjoyed when Hillingdon Council announced on Friday (December 13) that Parkwood Theatres would take over the running of the Beck Theatre, preventing it from closing in January. It brought an end to a saga that’s been ongoing for three months, and secured the future of the much-loved site.
The new operator is a well established theatre company, running four venues including Crawley’s Hawth Theatre in West Sussex. Below, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) looks back at a timeline of events, charting the turbulent period which left the theatre’s future uncertain.
Disagreements over costs and subsidies
On September 18 the current operators, Trafalgar Entertainment, revealed that the theatre was at risk of closure because Hillingdon Council had failed to extend their contract within a suitable timeframe. Steve Sargeant, the Theatre Director, said the council had been unable to provide any clarity about alternative operation of the Beck, and therefore there were concerns it may close.
Hillingdon Council hit back, claiming Trafalgar, which had been given a subsidised rent-free contract, should have to pay for their use of the theatre. The council said that as the operators were a profit-making business, the council should not have to subsidise their costs.
The LDRS understood that this was not simply about operating on a rent-free basis, but about Trafalgar believing the council should have to pay for the maintenance of the site. Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell described the threat of closure as ‘an act of cultural vandalism’.
The ‘Back the Beck’ campaign
The ‘Back the Beck’ campaign was key in mobilising a community of theatregoers from all over London and the country. The group held their first public demonstration on September 29 outside Uxbridge Tube station.
An online petition garnered widespread support, gaining thousands of signatures in a matter of days. Both sides continued to blame each other for the threat of closure, with Trafalgar claiming they agreed to operate without financial support on a trial basis for three years – removing any requirement for subsidy.
Hours after that statement was published, Hillingdon Council Leader Ian Edwards said it was with ‘great regret’ that Trafalgar were to cease operations at the Beck, before revealing there had been discussions of building a new modern theatre at the Beck with Trafalgar at the helm.
However, a spokesperson for Hillingdon Council clarified to the LDRS that this was a ‘proposal in a one-off conversation in 2021 that never really developed further into costings’ before retracting the comment hours later. A second round of protests were then announced by the ‘Back the Beck’ campaign to coincide with the meeting of Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet on October 10.
Trafalgar return to negotiations before walking away a second time
Less than 24 hours after the second demonstration, Hillingdon Council revealed that Trafalgar had walked away from discussions for a second time, accusing the operators of changing their demands and requesting a rent-free agreement with a ‘considerable subsidy’. Both parties had been negotiating behind closed doors prior to this.
The council went on to say: “They were also seeking the ability to walk away from a three-year deal, with rolling break clauses, despite originally wanting more certainty of continued operation. Fundamentally, this would not have ensured any long-term stability for the running of the facility which is the council’s main priority.”
Trafalgar Entertainment quickly hit back and blamed the council for their departure from negotiations. They said: “LBH [London Borough of Hillingdon] asked us to assess the level of financial support that would be required to prevent us finding ourselves in a loss-making position at the Beck next year. We presented that position to LBH and it was rejected. The alternative they put forward this week was not workable.”
They went on to accuse council officers of ‘unprofessional and, frankly, appalling’ behaviour at a meeting between the two parties. They believed the council and individual officers were failing to understand the seriousness of the situation facing the theatre, describing their attitude of being ‘one of contempt’.
Following the uncertainty of potential closure, acts such as Strictly stars Giovanni Pernice and Anton du Beke began to cancel their shows at the venue.
Council reveals theatre will close in January 2025
Throughout the debacle, Hillingdon Council insisted they were committed to keeping the theatre open, however on October 31 they revealed the Beck would close in the new year.
In a statement they said: “The council had been seeking to negotiate a new lease with Trafalgar Theatres for them to continue its management of the facility at a peppercorn rent with the council being responsible for essential repairs and maintenance. Trafalgar has insisted that, in addition, the council pay an ongoing subsidy.”
This led to a third round of protests by the Back the Beck campaign, and an urgent question by Uxbridge MP Danny Beales in the House of Commons. Later in the statement the local authority explained that they had hired external consultants to support the procurement of a long-term operator for the theatre.
LBH accuse Trafalgar of ‘purposefully operating at a loss’
Interested parties visited the Beck Theatre site in Hayes on November 20 to meet with consultants and Hillingdon Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Jonathan Bianco. The representatives from six potential operators explored the venue and engaged in discussions with the Deputy Leader and council officers about what needed to happen over the subsequent weeks.
One week later, Cllr Bianco accused Trafalgar Entertainment of purposefully running the theatre at a loss in order to receive financial subsidies. He also confirmed around this time claims that the council was in possession of drawings of residential developments on the Beck Theatre site.
But at a council meeting on November 28 Cllr Bianco revealed that a feasibility study ‘which included some outline high level option plans and drawings was prepared in early 2023 as part of a wider piece of work looking at the surrounding area’. He added: “However, I can confirm also that the site was unsuitable for residential from planning perspective as it is regarded as open space and that if residential was to be allowed it would only have been on a small scale making it unviable.”
Beck Theatre saved with Parkwood Theatres taking over
On Friday (December 13) Hillingdon Council announced a 15-year deal with Parkwood Theatres, with the option to extend the deal by 10 years. As part of the selection process, Parkwood Theatres were shortlisted for how they aligned with the council’s priority objectives to ‘maintain the Beck Theatre’s cultural identity, deliver a financially sustainable model with no need for public subsidy and enhance community engagement and participation through diverse programming’.
Parkwood Theatres manages four venues across the UK. These are: The Castle Theatre in Wellingborough, The Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone, The Playhouse in Weston-Super-Mare, and The Hawth in Crawley.
Tony Doherty, Managing Director of Parkwood Theatres, said: “We are delighted to be working with Hillingdon Council to secure a long-term future for the Beck Theatre and look forward to preserving its legacy while bringing fresh and exciting opportunities to the stage. Our commitment is to make this venue a vibrant hub for creativity, community and unforgettable performances.”
The council says the transition from Trafalgar to Parkwood is expected to be ‘seamless’ over the coming weeks.
Philip is a Local Democracy Reporter covering Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow, with a focus on council decisions, housing, planning, licensing and community stories across west London.
