Charles Cryer Theatre

The Charles Cryer Theatre is a small studio theatre on Carshalton High Street in the London Borough of Sutton. The building began as a public hall in 1874, later serving as a roller-skating rink and then a cinema before becoming a theatre in 1991. Prince Edward opened the theatre that year. After closing in 2016, it reopened in November 2019 under new management. The façade still shows its 19th-century origins, with brick arches and projecting tiled eaves. Inside, the auditorium has flexible seating for up to 125 people and a rehearsal room for groups of 20 or fewer. The theatre has staged notable productions such as Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya in 2009 and Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four in 2013. Its drama workshops for children were listed among Britain’s best summer secrets in 1998. The RIBA Design Award praised the conversion for its social contribution to the High Street. In 2015, Sutton Theatres Trust took over to run community projects alongside classical and contemporary theatre. After a period of closure, Cryer Arts Ltd secured a 25-year lease and reopened the venue in 2019. Visitors find a restaurant and bar downstairs, with the box office and auditorium above. The stage has limited wing space, and the seating can be rearranged to suit different events. The building retains original features like the wind vane and porthole windows. Performances range from music and film to theatre and comedy. The theatre sits on well-connected bus routes and is a short walk from two railway stations.