Space Theatre, Exciting Times: £30k for 30 Years

Aim

Commemorating 30 years of The Space Theatre. Help us keep our historic building alive and thriving as we enter our new chapter!

Space 30: Exciting Times

Space 30: Exciting Times celebrates three decades of the Space Theatre London supporting emerging artists and providing a warm, welcoming, and inclusive cultural space for our local community.

If you know The Space, you'll probably recognise the converted church we call our home as an architecturally precious, listed building that now houses a bustling theatre and arts venue, forming an important part of the Isle of Dogs' cultural and community landscape.

About Us

The Space was opened in 1996, by Robert Richardson and the St Paul's Arts Trust, a group of local residents. They saw the St Paul's Church, a beautiful Victorian building filled with history and character, fall into disuse and disrepair. 

With determination and a dedication to the community, they restored the building and reopened it as an arts venue. We're striving to serve their original vision to bring the arts closer to the Isle of Dogs, with an emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility for all.

30 years on, through ambition, hard work, and sheer ingenuity, The Space has survived crisis after crisis – even COVID-19's brutal lockdowns.

Our patrons are Sir Ian McKellen and Marie McLaughlin.

Looking Back

Since 1996, our remarkable building has nurtured hundreds of artists, companies and local groups. For three decades, The Space has offered opportunities where others could not, giving emerging talent a platform and local audiences affordable, accessible arts experiences. It has been a launchpad, a rehearsal room, a refuge, and a creative engine for independent theatre, music and performance. Countless careers have started within its walls, countless audiences have discovered something unexpected through its doors, and countless friendships have been forged.

Did You Know?

The Space provides new theatre companies opportunities to perform. One such company, Les Enfants Terribles led by Oliver Lansley, has gone on to receive critical acclaim, has been nominated for and won industry awards and now are making awards themselves to support other new companies. 

We've also had artists perform at the Space such as Linda Marlow, Steven Berkoff, Guy Masterson, Harry Hill, Josie Lawrence and Al Murray, with Doc Brown joining us in November.

"You can tell that the Space is a theatre run by theatre makers for theatre makers" Dom Stephens, Theatre Director and Podcast Maker (Spieling The Beans)

Our Building

The building's brickwork, vaulted interior and historic character give it a presence that cannot be replicated or replaced. Buildings like this hold stories in their walls and identity in their foundations. To have cared for a space of this significance is, though expensive, both a privilege and a responsibility. It deserves thoughtful investment – from us and our community – to ensure it remains protected and lively for future generations.

Why Are We Fundraising?

The need to preserve our beautiful Grade II Listed building means that repairs necessary to keeping a roof over our heads cost a fortune. Tight budgets means we often have to give up on ambitious plans in exchange for smaller, safer options, or turn away smaller artists and community groups we cannot financially support. It breaks our hearts, but funding streams have shrunk, and the financial landscape for small arts organisations is more challenging than ever. Though our doors remain open, we've come close to shutting them more than we'd like to admit.

Now, a new management team is leading The Space into its next chapter. We believe things cannot continue the way they have been, and that we can do so much more than surviving. We can thrive. We have bold plans ready to put into action and can see enormous untapped potential in the building and its community. Not only that, but many of our donation rewards are catered towards supporting the artists that bring The Space alive (see our Creatives Package reward for actors, theatre companies, film makers, playwrights and directors). 

If you believe our theatre matters, please consider making a donation to our 'Space 30: Exciting Times' campaign and be part of this.

What Your Support Makes Possible

We're raising £30,000 for 30 years. Here's what that money does:

• £60 helps keep the lights, heat and doors open for a community evening
• £200 sponsors a theatre seat in your name for years to come
• £630 funds a bursary so we can say yes to an emerging artist we would otherwise have to turn away
• £10,000+ upgrades the facilities our audiences and artists actually feel, from toilets to sound systems 

Your support will help protect the building, fuel new ideas, empower emerging artists, and ensure The Space continues to thrive for the next 30 years.

Looking Forward

The Space seeks not just to continue doing what you love, but to expand our impact on the community that surrounds us.

We'll continue to cultivate emerging talent, drawing from our local community. We'll continue to preserve the beauty of our historic building. We'll continue to dedicate ourselves to inclusivity and accessibility for artists and audiences alike.

You will be supporting a small but hardworking and passionate team of staff. You will not only help us maintain our building, but also improve our facilities, allowing us to bring in bigger and bolder events, from musical acts, community events, and new creative initiatives.

You can look forward to broader theatrical programming from new and established artists. You can help foster our beautiful community space and be a part of something exciting.

Other Ways To Help

If you can't give, you can still be part of this. Share this campaign with anyone who loves independent theatre or the Isle of Dogs. Come to a show, and bring someone who's never been. Become a Friend of The Space and back us all year round. Or volunteer your time, skills and enthusiasm. This is a community venue, and every kind of support keeps it alive.

Help Us Thrive, Not Just Survive

2026 marks 30 years of The Space and many more to come. As we embark on this new chapter at The Space, we're extending an invite for you to play a role in these Exciting Times.

Thank you for your support! 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 14th December 2026 at 10:06pm