RABBLE Theatre leaving The Stables in Caversham and seeking new spaces as agreement with the council is untenable.
The theatre company is no longer able to make use of the building as it is unable to raise the funds required to maintain it.
The Stables on Church Road is a Grade II listed building, which Reading Borough Council agreed to allow the theatre company to use it for rehearsals, workshops, and office space.
Reading Borough Council considered bids from a number of other groups, but decided that RABBLE would bring cultural value and awarded them a ten-year lease.
Now research into the site has estimated that around £1 million is required to make the building legally habitable, prevent further degradation, and develop it into a usable venue.
Between two and five years would be required to raise the necessary funds, according to funding estimates, and the council is no longer able to host the theatre company on such a basis.
RABBLE expressed gratitude to the council for accommodating them and is now seeking new space for team members and storage.
The company has a team of 8 members, which it explains all work together in the office for a couple of days a week and are looking for new working space.
It is also seeking storage space of around two shipping containers’ worth.
RABBLE’s general manager Emma Lawrence said: “Like most arts organisations in Reading, working with RABBLE Theatre requires us to have a rather nomadic lifestyle– not by choice, I should add.
“Reading Between the Lines Theatre Company (as we were once known) originated from the kitchen table of our founders Dani and Toby Davies, where we remained for many years thanks to their hospitality.
“Our performances have been rehearsed in empty offices, empty buildings, in churches, in pubs, an old school hall and a hotel restaurant closed during the pandemic, to name a few. I think I’m right in saying that one production team moved 11 times in order to fulfil its rehearsal schedule.”
She explained: “The RABBLE office has had much the same life–we’ve temporarily resided in various buildings, including the Minster Offices thanks to the generosity of the team there and in a derelict ex-RBC New Beginnings building on School Lane in Caversham where we were significantly outnumbered by rats and needles to start with.
“But this building offered us an amazing opportunity, engineered by the brilliant Fiona Brownfoot at Hicks Baker.
“We shared the space with Culture Mix and for the first time had a venue where we could run classes and rehearsals and, despite the leaking roof, it was a brilliant home for RABBLE.”
Ms Lawrence continued: “When the owners developed the building, RABBLE launched a ‘Find a Home’ campaign in the Summer of 2021 and when RBC put The Stables at Caversham Court Gardens out for tender to the private and third sector we put together a bid and were successful in being offered a tenancy.
“The Stables, whilst not fulfilling all of our needs did offer the opportunity to bring a beautiful grade 2 listed building back to use.
“We use it for office and storage space, as do Make/Sense Theatre–however, recently RBC has made the decision that the timeline of fundraising for £1 million or so needed to make the building habitable and functional for the community is no longer viable, so we will be homeless again.
“We are not alone–other arts organisations in Reading are all looking for space to thrive and fulfil their aims. So if you, your organisation or someone you know could help, then please do get in touch.”
