Hundreds of demonstrators staged a 'flashsong' musical protest at Fairfield Halls yesterday against plans to close the venue for two years while it is refurbished.
The crowd sung 'Fairfield, Heart of Croydon', a reworking of 'Land of Hope and Glory' written by Croydon Symphony Orchestra conductor Darrell Davidson, giving voice to a campaign that has seen more than 6,000 people sign a petition to keep the venue open.
Croydon Council's Labour administration wants to close Fairfield this summer for a £30m redvelopment it says will take two years to complete.
But campaigners fear the venue could struggle to win back audiences if it is closed for that long, and have called for a phased refurbishment.
RELATED: Croydon's Fairfield Halls 'might never win back audiences' after revamp closure, warns venue's boss
The protest begun outside Fairfield Halls at 2pm, but the crowd was soon forced inside the venue by rain.
At a singing protest today @FairfieldHalls to try and @saveourfairfld from closure by #CroydonCouncil pic.twitter.com/hullizuIGi
— Charlotte Desorgher (@charlottedancer) February 13, 2016
Gathered on the steps of the atrium, singers held up a forest of luminous yellow placards featuring slogans like "See no art, hear no music, speak no culture" and "To be or not to be, that is our question".
They were accompanied by members of the Croydon Symphony Orchestra and Popchoir, a community singing group that uses Fairfield Halls.
Save our Fairfield Halls #Croydon @saveourfairfld pic.twitter.com/WInOLSoMm0
— AddiscombeAmbassador (@Addiscombe1st) February 13, 2016
Andy Hylton, who started the online petition, said: “I think it was a really big success. The weather was a bit poor but it was a really good turnout.
“I do think that the council will have to listen to us and debate it in the council meeting."
“I’m pretty optimistic. I’m battling this because I feel strongly about theatres in towns, so I will always be optimistic, until the wrecking ball goes in."
Mr Hylton did not rule out the possibility of future protests.
He said: “We’re not going to be tying ourselves to gates – well, you never know – but it’s about keeping pressure to discuss it and consider the phased redevelopment. [The closure] hasn’t been properly thought out, it doesn’t fit together well and it’s too much of a risk to take with the children of the town.
Thanks all who came to #flashsong protest against Croydon Council's 2+ yr closure of Fairfield Halls. Fight goes on! pic.twitter.com/jpMqai14le
— Save Our Fairfield (@saveourfairfld) February 13, 2016
“It’s criminal if we’re trying to talk about Croydon being a great European city without a main venue and theatre."
Oct 2015: Croydon Council to close Fairfield Halls for £30m revamp - without a vision for venue's future
Last October, Croydon Council leader Tony Newman dismissed the idea that Fairfield might never re-open as "preposterous", and claimed that a phased redevelopment would cost £4.5m more than the full-closure option.
Got a story? Call the newdesk on 020 8722 6388 or email daniel.omahony@newsquest.co.uk
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