Our History
Park Theatre is the brainchild of Artistic Director, Jez Bond, and Creative Director Emeritus, Melli Bond, who – following a six year London-wide search for a building – discovered a vacant office block next to Finsbury Park station in 2010. Garnering support from the theatre community at large – including luminaries such as Ian McKellen and Alan Rickman, the press and, importantly, local residents they set out to raise the necessary funds to convert the tired concrete building into a thriving new theatre and beacon for the community. At a cost of just £2.6 million, the building, designed by David Hughes Architects, opened in May 2013 to rave reviews from the critics.
★★★★★ "A stunning £2.5 million playhouse." Guardian
Highlights of the opening season included the UK premiere of These Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich with a superb cast which included Honeysuckle Weeks and Charity Wakefield and the world premiere of Oliver Cotton's Daytona, starring Maureen Lipman – which went on a UK tour.
★★★★ "Shining ladies light up our newest stage." Daily Mail
★★★★ "Charity Wakefield is transfixing in the lead role." Evening Standard
★★★★ Telegraph "This is a compelling and deeply humane production and one I warmly recommend"
★★★★ The Times "I have never seen Lipman stronger"
Throughout the two years of the build we received tremendous support from the local, national and international press. Below are a selection of articles.
March 2013
Evening Standard
Living North
Islington Tribune
Playbill
The Stage
February 2013
January 2013
Arts Professional
Islington Tribune
December 2012
Camden New Journal
October 2012
Evening Standard
Islington Tribune
Spears
International Life
The Independent
September 2012
June 2012
Time Out
Islington Tribune
North London Online
May 2012
OK Magazine
April 2012
Living North Magazine
March 2012
Evening Standard
Living North (Website)
Telegraph
Islington Tribune
The Crouch End Project (Website)
February 2012
Evening Standard
Islington Tribune
The Fourth Wall Magazine
Guardian
Haringey Families
January 2012
October 2011
July 2011
January 2011
Islington Tribune
November 2010
Islington Tribune
October 2010
July 2010
Islington Tribune