About Us
★★★★★ "A spanking new five-star neighbourhood theatre." Independent
Park Theatre is the brainchild of Artistic Director, Jez Bond, and Creative Director, Melli Marie, who – following a six year London-wide search for a building – discovered a vacant office block next to Finsbury Park station in 2010. Garnering support from the theatre community at large – including luminaries such as Ian McKellen and Alan Rickman, the press and, importantly, local residents – they set out to raise the necessary funds to convert the tired concrete building into a thriving new theatre and beacon for the community. At a cost of just £2.6 million, the building, designed by David Hughes Architects, opened in May 2013 to rave reviews from the critics.
★★★★★ "A stunning £2.5 million playhouse." Guardian
Highlights of the opening season included the UK premiere of These Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich with a superb cast which included Honeysuckle Weeks and Charity Wakefield and the world premiere of Oliver Cotton's Daytona, starring Maureen Lipman – which went on a UK tour.
★★★★ "Shining ladies light up our newest stage." Daily Mail
★★★★ "Charity Wakefield is transfixing in the lead role." Evening Standard
★★★★ "This is a compelling and deeply humane production and one I warmly recommend" Telegraph
★★★★ "I have never seen Lipman stronger" The Times
Vision
Mission
With a mixture of new writing and modern revivals, we deliver world class theatre, collaborating with the finest existing and emerging talent on stage and behind the scenes. We tell accessible, real-to-life stories, whose content resonates and reflects the world around us and the neighbourhoods close by. We produce both in-house and in partnership with the most excellent existing and emerging producers, for whom we endeavour to provide an unparalleled level of support.
With a welcoming and nurturing environment we want Park Theatre to be exemplary in its accessibility to its diverse community and beyond – and through affordable ticket pricing and outreach programmes we aim to engage those with little or no experience of theatre.
Park Theatre is committed to creating a working environment that reflects the broad diversity of our local community. We aim to foster a productive and supportive workplace that provides equal opportunities for all employees both on our stages and behind the scenes.
Read all about our facilities and see more images.
Read the press coverage of the build.
Read our blog going back to June 2010 - as we started to dig trial holes on site.
Park Theatre (company no. 7091161) is a registered charity (no. 1137223).
"This will undoubtedly be the new theatre that you just have to go to." OneStopArts