Soho Theatre Walthamstow

Soho Theatre Walthamstow is a cultural venue in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, east London, occupying a Grade II* listed building originally constructed as the Granada Cinema. The site has an unusually long entertainment history: films were shown there as early as 1896, while the principal building was commissioned by Granada plc and opened in 1930 with a 2,697-seat auditorium. Its exterior was designed by Cecil Masey and its interior by Theodore Komisarjevsky, making it an important example of interwar cinema architecture. The building also retained an original working Christie organ at the time its cinema operation ended. The venue was associated with both cinema and live performance for much of the twentieth century. During its cinema years it operated under several names, including MGM, ABC and EMD. It also hosted concerts by major performers, including the Beatles, who appeared there on 24 May 1963, as well as John Coltrane, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, Alex Paterson and Buddy Holly. The building's cultural associations also include Alfred Hitchcock, who was reported to have frequented the cinema. The cinema closed in December 2003. It was subsequently acquired by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, which proposed converting it into a church. Local residents, supported by the McGuffin Film Society and public figures including Griff Rhys Jones, Paul McGann and Alain de Botton, campaigned to preserve the building's entertainment and community role. Planning permission was refused by Waltham Forest Council and subsequently by the national planning system, preventing the proposed conversion. In 2014 the building was sold to the pub company Antic and reopened under the name Mirth, Marvel and Maud. This phase combined hospitality with cultural use and kept the building in public view while longer-term arrangements were developed. In May 2019, Waltham Forest Council purchased the property from Antic. The council then partnered with Soho Theatre to restore the venue and establish a theatre with a local base and a national profile, linked to the borough's role as the first London Borough of Culture. The restored venue reopened on 1 May 2025 as Soho Theatre Walthamstow. Soho Theatre operates the building as an extension of its central London theatre operation, presenting comedy, cabaret, theatre, music, pantomime and creative-engagement work. The new configuration includes a 960-seat main auditorium, three studio spaces and four bars. Its programming model places comedy at the centre while also supporting theatre and performance by artists from varied backgrounds, including South Asian comedians. The opening programme included Natalie Palamides's WEER, the Neon Nights comedy series and performances by artists such as Sara Pascoe, Rosie Jones, Larry Dean, Phil Wang, Rahul Dua and Biswa Kalyan Rath. The venue also revived pantomime in Walthamstow with Aladdin and The Magic Lamp, directed by Susie McKenna. Although the Mirth, Marvel and Maud name remains an important recent alias, the current canonical identity is Soho Theatre Walthamstow.

The site of Soho Theatre Walthamstow has been used for film exhibition since at least 1896. Granada plc developed the present building, which opened in 1930 as The Granada with a capacity of 2,697 seats. Architect Cecil Masey designed the exterior and Theodore Komisarjevsky created the interior scheme. The building became a prominent cinema and entertainment venue in Walthamstow and was later renamed MGM, ABC and EMD as ownership and operating arrangements changed. The venue was not limited to film. Its large auditorium made it suitable for concerts, and the building hosted the Beatles on 24 May 1963. Other acts associated with its concert history include John Coltrane, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, Alex Paterson and Buddy Holly. Alfred Hitchcock was also associated with the cinema as a visitor. The building retained an original Christie organ, which was still working when the cinema finally closed. The cinema ceased operations in December 2003. The building was then bought by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, which sought to convert it into a church. A local preservation campaign opposed the change of use. The McGuffin Film Society became an organising point for residents, and public supporters included Griff Rhys Jones, Paul McGann and Alain de Botton. Waltham Forest Council rejected the planning proposal, and a subsequent appeal to the national planning authority also failed. Antic acquired the building in 2014 and reopened it as Mirth, Marvel and Maud, combining pub, hospitality and cultural functions. In May 2019 Waltham Forest Council bought the property from Antic. The council worked with Soho Theatre on a restoration and redevelopment programme intended to provide a long-term cultural use and contribute to the legacy of Waltham Forest's year as the first London Borough of Culture. The building reopened on 1 May 2025 as Soho Theatre Walthamstow. The restored venue has a 960-seat main auditorium, three studio spaces and four bars. Soho Theatre operates it as a sister venue to its Dean Street operation, bringing a programme centred on comedy while also including theatre, cabaret, music, pantomime and community work. The opening season included Natalie Palamides's WEER, the Neon Nights series and performances by Sara Pascoe, Rosie Jones, Larry Dean, Phil Wang, Rahul Dua and Biswa Kalyan Rath. A new pantomime tradition was launched with Aladdin and The Magic Lamp, directed by Susie McKenna. The restoration was carried out by Willmott Dixon Interiors with contributions from Pilbrow & Partners, Soho Theatre and interior design consultant Jane Wheeler.

1. 2025Reopening as Soho Theatre Walthamstow

   The restored building reopens on 1 May with a 960-seat auditorium, studio spaces, bars and a programme led by comedy, theatre, cabaret and live performance.

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2. 2019Waltham Forest Council acquires the building

   The council purchases the property from Antic and begins a partnership with Soho Theatre to establish a new cultural venue.

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3. 2014Mirth, Marvel and Maud opens

   Antic reopens the former cinema as a pub and cultural venue under the Mirth, Marvel and Maud name.

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4. 2003Cinema operations end

   The building closes as a cinema in December after decades of operation under several names.

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5. 1963The Beatles perform at the venue

   The Beatles give a concert at the Granada Cinema on 24 May 1963.

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6. 1930The Granada opens

   Granada plc opens a 2,697-seat cinema designed externally by Cecil Masey and internally by Theodore Komisarjevsky.

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7. 1896Early film exhibitions begin on the site

   The site is recorded as having shown films before the construction of the present cinema building.

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A landmark east London cultural venue that combines the heritage of a major historic cinema with Soho Theatre's contemporary comedy, theatre and cabaret programming. It is positioned as a locally rooted venue with national artistic reach.

• Main auditoriumLive performance venue2025

  The principal 960-seat auditorium is the venue's largest presentation space. It supports major comedy shows, theatre, music, cabaret, seasonal productions and other large-scale live performances.

• Studio spacesLive performance venue2025

  Three studio spaces provide smaller-scale settings for comedy, theatre, performance experiments, workshops and community or creative-engagement activity.

• Comedy programmeEntertainment programming2025

  Comedy is the venue's central programming proposition, including headline stand-up, emerging performers and the recurring Neon Nights series. The programme reflects Soho Theatre's established role as a producer and presenter of contemporary comedy.

• PantomimeSeasonal theatre2025

  The venue presents seasonal pantomime as part of its family and theatrical offer. The reopening period introduced Aladdin and The Magic Lamp, directed by Susie McKenna, marking a return of pantomime to Walthamstow after a long absence.

• 2003Campaign to save the former cinema

  Walthamstow · London

  After the cinema closed and the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God proposed converting it into a church, local residents organised to protect the building's cultural and entertainment use. The McGuffin Film Society became a focal point, with support from public figures including Griff Rhys Jones, Paul McGann and Alain de Botton.

  Outcome. Planning permission was refused by Waltham Forest Council and later by the national planning authority, preventing the proposed conversion.

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• 2025Launch of Soho Theatre WalthamstowProduct launch

  A restored version of the Grade II* listed building was prepared as a new Soho Theatre venue serving east London.

  What changed. The venue reopened with a 960-seat auditorium, three studios, four bars and programming spanning comedy, theatre, cabaret, music, pantomime and community engagement.

  Aftermath. The building returned to operation as a live cultural venue with a local base and national programming ambitions.

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• 2019Council acquisition and Soho Theatre partnershipM&A

  Waltham Forest Council sought to secure the long-term future of the listed former cinema as a cultural asset.

  What changed. The council purchased the building from Antic and partnered with Soho Theatre to restore and operate it as a new theatre.

  Aftermath. The partnership led to the venue's reopening as Soho Theatre Walthamstow in 2025.

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• 2014Reopen the former cinema as Mirth, Marvel and MaudStrategy

  Following the failed proposal to convert the building into a church, Antic acquired the property and sought to give it a hospitality and cultural function.

  What changed. The building reopened under the Mirth, Marvel and Maud name as a pub and cultural venue.

  Aftermath. The reopening kept the historic building in active public use until its later acquisition and redevelopment by Waltham Forest Council and Soho Theatre.

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• 2025Historic Walthamstow cinema reopens as Soho Theatre Walthamstow

  The former Granada, MGM, ABC, EMD and Mirth, Marvel and Maud venue reopened on 1 May 2025 as Soho Theatre Walthamstow after restoration and redevelopment.

  Product launch
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• 2019Waltham Forest Council acquires the former Granada building

  Waltham Forest Council purchased the building from Antic and partnered with Soho Theatre to secure its future as a cultural venue.

  M&A
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• 2014Mirth, Marvel and Maud opens in the former Granada cinema

  After Antic acquired the former cinema from the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, the building reopened under the Mirth, Marvel and Maud name.

  Product launch
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1. Soho Theatre Walthamstow