Soho Theatre Walthamstow is celebrating its first anniversary after welcoming more than 130,000 audience members to over 100 shows since opening in May 2025.
The venue has hosted an eclectic programme spanning comedy, theatre, cabaret and music, with artists including Tim Minchin, Reggie Watts, Rosie Jones, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Natalie Palamides, Sindhu Vee and Jinkx Monsoon performing on its stage.
A total of 17,000 Waltham Forest residents attended shows via £15 tickets, while more than 10,000 children experienced performances and events over the past year.
The newly restored 960-seat venue, formerly the Granada cinema, has already received major recognition, including Theatre Building of the Year at The Stage Awards 2026 and Community Business of the Year at the London Chamber of Commerce.
Highlights from the theatre programme include Natalie Palamides’ WEER, which returned for a second run due to popular demand, and Bryony Kimmings’ Bog Witch, originally commissioned for the venue.
The current production End of the Rainbow, starring Jinkx Monsoon as Judy Garland, continues to play to packed houses until 21 June after rehearsing in the venue’s studio space.
Comedy has been a core focus, with regular mixed-bill nights such as Neon Nights featuring performers including Phil Wang, Sam Campbell and Dylan Moran, while Jonny Woo’s Un-Royal Variety has found a new home in Walthamstow.
The venue has also prioritised community engagement, with over 5,000 people attending creative programmes including Makers’ Lab and Comedy Lab, alongside initiatives supporting emerging writers and young creatives.
Co-Executive Directors Mark Godfrey and Sam Hansford said: “A year ago we opened Soho Theatre Walthamstow. What’s struck us most since is how quickly a theatre becomes something bigger than a building – part of people’s conversations and sense of place. This theatre exists because of a remarkable coalition of people: the community campaigners who fought to save it, Waltham Forest Council who had the vision to back it, and the artists, builders, staff and audiences who have made it what it is.”
They added: “The last year has been a period of discovery, learning what this extraordinary building wants to be, and how audiences from across London and some of the most distinctive artists in the world respond to it. We want still more productions to see Soho Theatre Walthamstow as their London home: artist-friendly, a great audience experience, well served by transport and accessible in every sense. One year in and we hope to see you here soon.”
Looking ahead, the venue will present previews of Grayson Perry The Musical alongside performances from Dame Meera Syal, Lenny Henry, Sue Perkins, Richard Ayoade and Ruby Wax.
Family programming includes Alice in Wonderland, The Cat in the Hat, and Tall Stories’ The Gruffalo, while festive highlights will feature Taylor Mac: Holiday Sauce and the return of Jonny Woo’s Un-Royal Variety.
The theatre has also announced the opening of the Soho Theatre Pub next door, serving locally brewed drinks and food from chef James Cochran, further contributing to the area’s evening economy.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
