Twenty one days to go and the Council has given notice of the Planning Inquiry Hearing. It appears that this letter has only gone to those who have already registered an interest.
At the time of posting the notice here the Council Planning Portal site for these applications has not been updated since the end of 2023. {But some local residents have today received a letter.}
Scroll down within the box to see the full letter.
Orange Tree Artistic Director Tom Littler and Executive Director Hanna Streeter have announced a full programme for the 2025 season at Orange Tree Theatre (OT). The season is comprised of six new plays including four world premières, two rediscoveries and a classic comedy.
The OT also announces today the launch of OT Under 30 Nights as part of a renewed commitment to engage and support young audiences.
In a World Premiere Churchill in Moscow reunites Howard Brenton and Tom Littler for their sixth collaboration, with local actor Roger Allam in the titular role to launch the season. The play explores an imagined (but real) meeting between Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin at the Kremlin in 1942.
A revival of April De Angelis’ Playhouse Creatures follows, directed by Michael Oakley and starring Anna Chancellor, which will transfer to the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath.
The Orange Tree then presents the London première of the RSC production of Mark Ravenhill’s Ben and Imo, directed by Erica Whyman, with Samuel Barnett and Victoria Yeates reprising their roles.
The spring season culminates with a revival of Terence Rattigan’s penultimate play In Praise of Love, directed by Amelia Sears.
The 2025 season continues with Poor Clare by Chiara Atik directed by Blanche McIntyre, and the world premières of two adaptations: August Strindberg’s Dance of Death newly adapted and directed by Richard Eyre, and Hedda a new play by Tanika Gupta inspired by Ibsen’s classic Hedda Gabler.
The 2025 season culminates with Tom Littler directing the 250th Anniversary production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s comic classic The Rivals, alongside the OT Young Company performing in Alice in Wonderland, a new play by Chinonyerem Odimba inspired by Lewis Carroll’s novel.
Artistic Director Tom Littler said today, “This year of programming digs into the past to ask questions about the present and the future. Questions about power and those who wield it; about the shadow of war; about privilege and class; about heritage; about secrecy and honesty. These are rich plays: entertaining, exciting, and provocative. We can’t wait to share the work of these outstanding writers with our audiences in Richmond and beyond.”
Those comments seem peculiarly apt in a national and international context, and in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
The OT’s Community team continue their work to connect young people with Shakespeare with the return of Primary Shakespeare and Shakespeare Up Close. The OT will present Julius Caesar for Primary school audiences directed by Community Director Francesca Ellis, with Romeo and Juliet directed by Marcus Bazley and Macbeth, directed by Zoë Waterman, presented for Secondary school audiences, in a co-production with Guildford Shakespeare Company.
The OT also today announced the launch of OT Under 30 Nights, with the inaugural event taking place on Friday 8 November for the JMK Award-winning production Guards at the Taj. Within the £15 ticket price, 18–29-year-old theatregoers will receive a free drink, a post-show talk, and a social event in the bar.
Hanna Streeter, OT Executive Director, said: “Alongside our main house programme, our community and education programmes go from strength to strength, working with children and adults of all ages and backgrounds to inspire and enrich the lives of thousands of people.“
Priority booking for Churchill in Moscow, Playhouse Creatures, Ben and Imo and In Praise of Love opens from 16 October at 12 noon, with general on sale opening on 28 October at 12 noon.
Thank you for the email with the note from the Inspector [concerning the livestream of the Inquiry hearings]. I see that you have copied others into your email, so I have included them in this response. I have added the Leader of the Council, as I am aware that he has been in email correspondence with a local resident who has drawn his attention to my blog EastSheenMatters.
I am not disposed to pursue this matter further.
The position is obvious. The final decision on livestreaming rests with the Council. They have decided that the cost is too high. They alone know why this should differ from other occasions which they do choose to livestream. They alone know the true financial cost, estimates for which I have seen to vary between £5,000 and £25,000.
I would only add this. It does seem to me to be a missed opportunity to involve the local community, especially for example those working from home or less able to travel or who cannot afford to spend a day or days at hearings. We all know the importance of developing the Brewery site. Given the level of local opposition to some aspects of the development, it would have been an opportunity to lay the case before the public. Once the decision was taken that the hearings could not be arranged closer to the development site, getting to York House during the rush hour was never going to be easy. So regrettably one is left to deduce that the Council would prefer not to expose its position to greater public gaze.
While writing I must mention one other point. I raised with the Council earlier in the year, the matter of the false letters of support for the development filed by or on behalf of the developers at the time of the Planning Committee meeting in July 2023 and posted to the Council planning website for more than six months thereafter. That has caused considerable disquiet locally. I have sought but never received a satisfactory explanation. As I have written in the statement I have filed for the hearing, were an explanation to be forthcoming, I would not seek to take up the Inspector’s time on the matter.
Don’t forget the Remembrance Service at Sheen Lane on Sunday, 10 November 2024.
Eight marshals are needed between 10.30am – 11.30am. If this is something you could help with please contact Anne Reeves.
anne_reeves@madasafish.com – phone: 8876 6616 or mobile – 07802 763 851 as soon as possible.
The next Bring and Share lunch with parish friends will be at Christ Church Community Hall on Thursday, 17th October, at 12.30pm.
For further information contact
Mireille Stanton – email: mireille.stanton@gmail.com
Sue Bonnell – 07762 018864
Sara Bromfield – 07986 726309
Kate Woodhouse – email: katewoodhouse20@gmail.com
Sarah Olney MP reports in her weekly Newsletter:
“Hammersmith Bridge will unfortunately be closed for a series of 24 hour periods over the coming few months. This is to allow “jacking operations” during which the bridges seized bearings will be replaced. While I know how frustrating these closures are, I know many residents will be pleased that this work is being done and progress is finally being made.
The repairs will commence at 9pm on Friday 25th October, and continue on the consecutive Fridays at the same time until 25th November. During this period, there will also be a 24-hour closure on Monday 18th November starting at 9pm.
In addition, there will be extensive repairs on the footways from Monday 14th October onwards. To enable these repairs to take place, one of the footways will have to be closed from 9am to 3pm on weekdays. People will still be able to cross via the adjacent open footway. It is estimated that these repairs will take around 2 months to be completed.”
A link from Colin Clarke. See his comment to the previous post about the quality of the film. But avoid the bit about Jackie Chan!
The Pitch and Putt might be closing for the winter but the adjacent terrain is in perfect condition for pitching your boule at jack.
Comparing boules
A close call
Requiring close study and debate.
A fair spread
If you are interested in playing send a message in reply to the email.
BARNES HOME GUARD CLUB
A TRIP AROUND EAST SHEEN & MORTLAKE, 1850-1950
THURSDAY 24TH OCTOBER 2024 1100am to 1230pm
Join us at the Home Guard for an engaging talk with Richard White, a BHGA member since 1994
Discover the fascinating stories of our neighbourhood’s past
Enjoy tea, coffee and pastries while learning about the rich history of our local area.
This free event is open to everyone, so bring along your friends, family and neighbours.
Venue Barnes Home Guard Club 76a, Richmond Park Road, London SW14 8LA
 | Richard AH White on Get your red flags out |
 | inspiring641c639631 on Get your red flags out |
| Richard AH White on Get your red flags out |
| inspiring641c639631 on Get your red flags out |
 | butteryluckye3eac174… on Sheen Rocks! |
