Going Stag

Three years ago as I wrote here, I took my first visit to the Above The Stag Theatre. The new venue, above an established gay bar in Victoria aimed at running a programme of plays, musicals and cabarets of particular interest to the LGBT community. I met the artistic director, Peter Bull who spoke to me of his passion for theatre and his enthusiasm for the new project to succeed. Peter’s programming ethos was refreshingly honest mixing camp cabaret and saucy comedy with serious drama and ambitious musical productions.

Over the next few years ATS went from strength to strength artistically but of equal importance they began to do well commercially. Productions were selling out again and again and runs were having to extend beyond their original listing. Much of the success was down to Peter himself, his unfailing hospitality and not least his canny business sense. As the controversy over the ‘Low Pay, No Pay’ issue echoed around the London fringe, Peter rightly and proudly pointed out that not only did he pay a permanent stage manager, he also paid all his performers.

His team including Tim McArthur, Richard Lambert and writers Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper plus many, many others all worked together to improve the out-put Above The Stag making it the sell-out success it became. Opening nights Above The Stag became highlights of my reviewing life and whilst I haven’t enjoyed everything at the venue, it has been extremely satisfying to see the ‘Sold Out’ sign outside again and again and again.

Today Peter has announced the imminent closure of both The Stag and it’s precious theatre upstairs. Developers have scheduled the levelling of the building and the bulldozers are due in by the end of March. I doubt very much if the gay community will kick up much of a fuss about The Stag closing down but the closing of its theatre will be a huge loss.

In the last three years I have met so many interesting, funny, fascinating, talented people Above The Stag that I am committed to help them in their search for a new home. In a press release Peter has announced:-

"We are committed to continuing Above The Stag's success, and we therefore urgently need a new home. We would love to hear from property developers, pubs with unused function spaces, or any other property owner who would welcome a resident theatre. We bring a well respected programme, up to date sound and lighting equipment, and a loyal audience. The Stag Pub’s bar takings over Christmas were up 27% thanks to our panto.

"We are also looking for donations to our ATS ‘Moving On Fund’ to help us relocate and cover the costs of interim storage. We have built something of a family at Above The Stag and that includes our enthusiastic audience. What we have achieved over the past 3 years is too valuable to lose, but we need all the help we can get to make sure we find a new home. We want everyone to stay in touch as well so email us via the website or pop in to the pub on Thursday 8 March between 6.30pm and 9pm when we’re saying thank you and goodbye too everyone who has come to and been in our shows. We’re offering a free drink on arrival and there will be a short entertainment at 7.30pm comprising songs from previous shows and maybe a monologue or two. We’re hoping as many faces as possible will be able to call in."

I hope to see you all there and if you know some way to help ATS move on to bigger and better things, then drop by.