Stratford Circus closes
by Sally Bramley for The Stage

Stratford Circus, one of Britiain's newest subsidised venues, has gone into voluntary liquidation following a board decision to stop trading after Arts Council England rejected its bid to be accepted on to a recovery programme.

The theatre, which opened only two years ago as part of a £13.7 million project to develop the Stratford Cultural Quarter, also lost its £223,000 annual grant from the local authority Newham council on the same day. All staff at the venue have been made redundant and will now have to apply to the liquidator to receive their final salaries.

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It's always a shame when a dance venue closes its doors. I went a couple of times to Stratford Circus and liked the theatre with its comfortable padded benches and good sightlines. The Henri Oguike Company looked good there.

However, the journey to the venue in the East End of London was a deterrant for me and propbably others the bar area was uninviting. I wonder what will happen to the building now?

College rescue for Stratford Circus
By Ruth Gillespie for The Stage


Troubled east London performing arts centre Stratford Circus has confirmed that its future has been secured following an agreement that Newham Sixth Form College is to take over management of the venue.

The Stage reported in December that a deal was being brokered between the two organisations and now operational responsibilities for the theatre have been formally transferred from the London Borough of Newham to New VIc. Further discussions are currently taking place with the University of East London about a possible partnership.

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