Emergency Arches Lane Theatre Closure Fund

Aim

Help us safely dismantle, transport & store equipment as Arches Lane Theatre is forced to close by its landlord on Sept 28!

THE STORY

For six years, Battersea Power Station has housed an essential 100-seat independent theatre space—first as The Turbine Theatre, and since Spring 2025, as Arches Lane Theatre.

Non-profit company Kibo Productions (CLG No. 08417437) took over the theatre after winning a competitive public tender process. We entered a joint three-year plan with landlord Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) to build a thriving cultural community hub and increase local access to the arts. 

Throughout this process, we were encouraged to believe that a long-term future on the estate was on the table, and we poured everything we had into building a lasting home here. We built Arches Lane Theatre as an inclusive home where everyone belonged—hosting everything from children's classes and community writing workshops to fringe theatre, comedy, and cabaret.

⏱️ How We Got Here: The Timeline

March 2025 | A 3-Year Vision Begins

27 March 2025: Kibo Productions signs a 3-year lease with BPSDC to establish Arches Lane Theatre as a non-profit theatre and community space.

Spring 2026 | The Theatre Comes Alive—While Our Future Was Being Decided

18 March 2026: During the day, we formally meet with BPSDC to update them that our programming calendar was fully scheduled through late 2026. That evening, Sharon is named Best Cultural Champion at the Wandsworth Women's Enterprise Awards.

21 March 2026: BPSDC hosts The Beat Goes On at Battersea Power Station, celebrating Wandsworth’s year as London Borough of Culture.

15 May 2026: Public Companies House records show that OG Battersea 756 Ltd (trading as commercial operator "Off-Grid") is incorporated.

27 May 2026: BPSDC verbally informs us they are triggering the lease break clause to terminate our lease and moving in a commercial tenant who does not intend to operate the venue as a theatre. We formally request—both that day and when meeting with the incoming tenant the following week—to stay through December 2026 to honour contracted artists. BPSDC and the new tenant flatly refuse. Given their absolute firmness, we immediately begin the painful process of cancelling contracted shows.

June 2026 | The Harsh Reality Sets In

17 June 2026: We notify BPSDC that we have completed cancelling our entire autumn/winter programming from 28 September onwards.

18 June 2026: Formal legal termination paperwork arrives from BPSDC.

July 2026 | Mixed Messages

2 July 2026: In an in-person meeting, BPSDC offers a late 3-month extension due to shifts in the incoming tenant’s fit-out schedule. Having already notified BPSDC on 17 June that our autumn season had been cancelled due to their eviction notice, accepting an extension of our occupancy was neither viable nor reasonable—demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of how cultural venues operate. We explain why we cannot accept, but informally request two weeks to decommission and de-rig the space when shows are no longer running. BPSDC verbally confirms this 2-week extension is acceptable, while flatly refusing our request to relocate the theatre elsewhere on the estate.

20 July 2026: We formally confirm in writing our intention to proceed with the agreed 2-week extension to safely de-rig technical equipment and vacate. We are currently waiting on BPSDC to provide the necessary legal paperwork.

Looking to Our Future

4 August 2026: We decide to go public with our closure and launch this emergency crowdfunder.

27 September 2026: Final live performance at Arches Lane Theatre.

28 September 2026: Official lease termination date.

Every community deserves access to the arts, and independent spaces like ours are rapidly disappearing. While Kibo Productions continues working with local authorities, the GLA Culture at Risk team, and The Theatres Trust to highlight this alarming precedent, we must take immediate emergency action to safely vacate the venue and protect our company's future. Our hope is that we will find a new venue with a landlord and neighbourhood who recognise the value of what we do and want to build a culture-rich community together.

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW

With our final performance on 27 September, we face an extraordinarily tight window to fully dismantle and vacate the venue once legal paperwork for our requested de-rigging period is finalised. Being forced out on short notice carries massive, unbudgeted financial burdens. As a non-profit, Kibo Productions does not hold large funding reserves. We are raising £15,000 in emergency funding to cover the non-negotiable costs of winding down our physical space without bankrupting our theatre company.

Your support directly funds:

Specialised Technical De-rig & Dismantling: Safe removal of our custom lighting grid, sound system, staging, and backstage infrastructure by certified technicians.

Long-Term Secure Asset Storage: Securing commercial storage in London to keep Kibo’s technical equipment safe while we search for a new permanent home.

Honouring Freelancer & Artist Commitments: Protecting company obligations to visiting companies, technicians, and creatives through our final curtain on 27 September.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT

Pledge & Claim a Piece of History: Donate directly or claim one of our exclusive physical perks—including actual backstage vanity mirrors, foyer signage, or our iconic custom 'Arches Lane Theatre' neon sign!

Make Your Voice Heard: Email BPSDC ([email protected], CC [email protected]) and Nine Elms councillor Matt Corner ([email protected]). Tell them what Arches Lane Theatre has meant to you, and why independent arts spaces must be protected from commercial redevelopment.

Support Your Local Theatres: Stand up for small independent theatres where you live to help prevent stories like ours from happening again.

Share the Campaign: Spread this link across social media to reach residents, theatre lovers, and the wider arts community.

Thank you for standing by Kibo Productions and Arches Lane Theatre. Whatever you're able to give or share, we truly appreciate it.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 28th September 2026 at 12:00pm