Save London's Theatres Campaign

We are delighted that the CGCA have chosen to represent the Theatres in Covent Garden for the front page collage of their Annual Report. Covent Garden has a rich theatre history with street names commemorating theatre greats such as Thomas Betterton, David Garrick and Charles Macklin. In the heart of the district is an Inigo Jones' masterpiece, St. Paul's, known as "the actors' church", where to this day memorial services are held for the famous and the unknown of the profession alike, and where so many of the great figures of the past are commemorated or buried. In the portico is a plaque recording the first known Punch and Judy show, as witnessed by Samuel Pepys in 1662. The following year, 1663, saw Thomas Killigrew's Theatre Royal open - the first of the famous Drury Lane theatres. Most of the great names in art, literature and music have worked or played in Covent Garden.

Of the myriad shops, workshops and suppliers with theatrical connections, many have disappeared but in today's Covent Garden we still find the Theatre Museum, the Garrick Club, the CAA and the Actors' Centre, along with costumiers, ballet and dance studios and outfitters, producers, casting directors, theatrical agents, photographers, memorabilia shops and many more. Many are the restaurants and wine bars specialising in theatrical suppers, some, such as Rules in Maiden Lane, with historic royal connections and legends of Champagne drunk from Lily Langtree's slipper.

Our own beginnings, in 1972, were the result of a large and destructive road plan which would have cut a great swathe through Covent Garden and, in the process, would have caused the demolition of 12 theatres and immobilised another four. We are proud that our long association with the CGCA began at this time when our organisations fought a tremendous battle against the then GLC's plans which, as a result, were withdrawn in 1973 by a newly elected GLC. We can only pay tribute to the wonderful work done over so many years by the CGCA, who have been watchful and vigilant on behalf of the residents and businesses, including the theatres, whose interests we also represent. It is of vital importance that the people who live in the Garden and those who work in the theatres and allied professions should live in harmony and realise their importance to and dependence on each other.

John Levitt, Campaign Chairman

 

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