Greenwich Playhouse

Greenwich Playhouse was a small studio theatre in the centre of Greenwich, inside the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It opened in 1990 and closed in 2012 after operating for more than two decades. The building stood above St Christopher’s Inn pub, with its entrance on the pub’s forecourt beside Greenwich station. The theatre had 84 seats arranged in a studio layout rather than a traditional stage. It specialised in producing new plays and experimental work rather than touring productions. The playhouse was recognised for its role in developing local talent and staging new writing. It provided a platform for writers and performers early in their careers. Greenwich Theatre, a larger proscenium theatre nearby, offered a contrasting programme of mainstream productions. Together they showed different sides of Greenwich’s cultural life. Visitors would have found a simple, intimate space with flexible seating that could be rearranged for each show. The entrance through the pub created a casual atmosphere before the performance. The forecourt outside the station made the theatre easy to reach from central London. Though it no longer operates, the building remains part of Greenwich’s recent theatre history.