SLT History
History of South London Theatre
Our Theatre, as you will probably have realised from a glance at the front elevation, is a converted Victorian fire station originally built in 1881. The conversion was designed by Owen Luder, later to become a controversial President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, when two local amateur theatre societies, the Proscenium Players from Sydenham and the Lambeth Players, joined together to find a new permanent home.
Having found the old fire station / St Lukes Church Hall / warehouse / illegal boxing venue, and with the design complete, the members set about the alchemy of conversion with the sweat of brows and honest endeavour. With stage one complete - the basement clubroom - renewed enthusiasm saw the first night of The Alchemist by Ben Johnson in October 1967.
Since then, and with Prompt Corner added in February 1975, over 600 plays have been presented, the majority of them by our own members.
In 1975/6 we gained admission to the Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain, fulfilling their criteria of being solely in control of our building, leased from the London Borough of Lambeth (later to become a Grade II Listed building), and being recommended by two established member theatres. We have had Ann Mattey as the National Secretary of the LTG, Pip Piacentino as Assistant Editor of the yearbook, and our own President, John Anderson, was the Guild Chairman 1995-7.
We also, through John Anderson, have representation on the International Theatre Exchange which is the English arm of the International Amateur Theatre Association - a worldwide organisation and, as Honorary Secretary, he is very much concerned with the Central Council for Amateur Theatre.
This is all very out of date! Please edit.