But last November, the Actors Centre – a registered charity in the heart of London’s West End – was “rebranded” by its new chief executive, Amanda Davey . It is now the Seven Dials Playhouse, a 100-seat theatre that describes itself as “truly inclusive … relevant, dynamic and exciting”.
The change has been met with dismay and anger among many members, who say the loss of such a vital resource for actors is unconscionable. They have set up a campaign, Actor at the Centre , demanding regular classes and workshops be reinstated.
The campaign has won the backing of Sheila Hancock , who described the change as “heartbreaking”, and Mark Rylance . Last week, Equity, the union representing 47,000 performers and creative practitioners, urged the Seven Dials Playhouse management team to reverse its action, and agreed to contribute to the campaign’s legal costs.
This story is from the July 29, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the July 29, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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