New images have been released as the brand-new Soho Theatre Walthamstow prepares to open its doors to the public on Friday, 2 May 2025.
This major new London venue, restored from the beloved 1930s former Granada, features a 960-seat auditorium, studio spaces, backstage facilities, four bars, and a restaurant.
A vibrant and eclectic programme of work will bring the best of Soho Theatre’s acclaimed programme to a bigger audience, with tickets now on sale at sohotheatre.com/walthamstow.
The first production to open the new theatre will be the award-winning Natalie Palamides: WEER, which played to packed houses at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Soho Theatre Dean Street.
Stunning interior and exterior photography is released today of the new Soho Theatre Walthamstow as final preparations are made to London’s newest venue ahead of the inaugural production Natalie Palamides: WEER, which opens on Friday, 2 May.
This major new 960-seat venue will house the very best UK and international comedy, theatre, cabaret, and panto, alongside a lively creative engagement programme. Beautifully restored from the 1930s former Granada by Waltham Forest Council in partnership with Soho Theatre, the new venue includes a refurbished Grade II* listed auditorium, brand-new studio spaces, backstage facilities, four bars (Main Foyer, Ziggurat, Cross Hall, and Circle), and a restaurant.
Recreating the buzzing atmosphere of Soho Theatre Bar within a magnificent heritage surrounding, Soho Theatre will run the food & beverage offer in-house, featuring Neon, Soho Theatre’s own lager with Adnams and East London Brewery brewed locally in the borough, while Curry On Naanstop, one of Britain’s top takeaways, will serve Mumbai street food.
A local theatre with a national profile, Soho Theatre Walthamstow will feature a world-class line-up for audiences from across London and beyond and will sit alongside Soho Theatre Dean Street as the iconic central London venue celebrates 25 years at the forefront of cutting-edge new theatre, comedy, and cabaret.
Highlights of the inaugural programme include new monthly comedy line-up show Neon Nights featuring Thanyia Moore, Sara Pascoe, Rosie Jones, Janine Harouni, Larry Dean, Catherine Bohart, Jin Hao Li, Olga Koch, Sindhu Vee, Tom Davis, Josh Pugh, and Phil Wang. There will be new work from Bryony Kimmings, pantomime for all ages (Soho-style) with Aladdin & The Magic Lamp written and directed by Susie McKenna, plus shows including Tim Minchin, Dara Ó Briain, Suzi Ruffell, Kiell Smith-Bynoe & friends, The Tiger Lillies, Josh Johnson, Josie Long, John Early, Sarah Keyworth, Stamptown, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Rahul Dua, The Un-Royal Variety, Brown Girls Do It Too, TiFo Football Podcast live, and much more. Please see full programme details here.
Locally, to celebrate the opening, Soho Theatre Walthamstow is releasing 15,000 tickets for £15 across the first year of shows – up to May 2026 – to those who live, work, or study in the borough as part of Soho Theatre’s partnership with Waltham Forest Council. A lively and eclectic creative engagement programme includes activities for all ages from music tech sessions for young creatives to writing workshops for anyone aged 16 to 100, storytelling fun for little ones, theatre sessions for older residents, and a whole range of taster workshops for aspiring adult artists who want to try their hand at comedy, cabaret, drag, or playwriting. For further details see here.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m delighted that Soho Theatre Walthamstow has breathed new life into this historic London venue. With a world-class comedy line-up alongside a creative programme for the local community, the theatre is set to become a huge asset – not just for Walthamstow but London as a whole. It’s a fantastic legacy from Waltham Forest’s year as my very first London Borough of Culture, and an excellent example of the power of culture to transform areas and inspire communities.”
Co-Executive Directors of Soho Theatre Walthamstow Mark Godfrey and Sam Hansford said: “With artists and audiences at its heart and a dynamic social enterprise ethos, Soho Theatre Walthamstow will create countless joyful, memory-making experiences for many people. Alongside the well-documented cultural, social, and wellbeing benefits, this investment in cultural infrastructure also delivers clear economic value – speaking directly to the wider priorities of culture-led growth and, through our international collaborations, to soft power gains. We’re incredibly grateful to the campaigners, to Waltham Forest Council, and to everyone who helped make this vision a reality. We can’t wait to welcome you in.”
Design architect Fred Pilbrow (the Founding Partner of Pilbrow & Partners) said: “This beautiful, restored space is testament to the belief, determination, and commitment of the amazing local community. We were privileged to work on this project from the very beginning, initially pro-bono, to support the team in championing how this unique building could be successfully converted to a live performance venue of national importance. Waltham Forest Council, inspired by the public support, backed this vision and as a result the completed Soho Theatre Walthamstow will enrich the culture, economy, and heritage of the town centre for many years to come.”
Soho Theatre Walthamstow is a vibrant new theatre steeped in a rich history. A performance venue since 1897, in 1930 the site was redeveloped and opened with exteriors designed by Cecil Masey and extraordinary ornate interior decoration by Theodore Komisarjevsky, inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. Majestic and awe-inspiring, the new Granada hosted comedy, panto, drag, music, and film. From the mid-1950s artists including The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Dusty Springfield, The Who, The Ronettes, Chuck Berry, Duke Ellington, and the Rolling Stones performed there, and a pantomime was presented each Christmas. The last live performance took place in 1973 and the Granada became a cinema, changing owners until it became known as the EMD Cinema, sadly closing its doors in 2003.
More information can be found here.
