Secombe Theatre

The Secombe Theatre stood on Cheam Road in Sutton, London, where a red-brick former Christian Science church built in 1937 was converted into a 396-seat venue in 1983. The building formed part of a larger plot once belonging to an estate, and its auditorium faced an end-on stage with tiered seating. Four dressing rooms served performers, and a glass extension on the east side housed a public bar. A multi-purpose room at the back became “Back Door @ The Secombe,” a 120-seat studio with its own bar and lighting rig. The theatre’s design gave it a strong presence in the local landscape. It became a producing and receiving house under Sutton Theatres Trust, staging two or three in-house productions each year alongside national and international co-productions. Past shows included *Steel Magnolias*, *The Tempest*, and *Journey’s End*, while Edward Bond premiered his play *Dea* there in 2016. The theatre attracted headline comedians and hosted community events, conferences, and even a pantomime. A 2009 review praised a production as “visually vibrant,” and the venue supported local groups alongside professional performances. Visitors found a welcoming bar and refreshment area in the glass extension, open to the public during the day. The studio space provided affordable rehearsal rooms for daytime use, while the tiered auditorium offered clear views of the stage. The theatre’s history reflected wider struggles of local venues, with financial challenges leading to its closure in 2016. Though now disused, its legacy endures in the community’s cultural life and the ongoing plans for its site.