Groundlings Theatre Trust is the charity that operates the Groundlings Theatre in Portsmouth since 2020. We operate out of a Grade II* listed building that has been part of the local community since it was built as one of the first free schools in the UK in 1784. We have a drama school and a programme of in-house and visiting shows that both entertain and provide opportunities for young and old to pursue their talent and creativity and bring the community together.  

What is at stake?
We want to keep Groundlings Theatre in the community and owned by the community. Our landlord had agreed to sell the building to the Trust and provided a written statement that was used in support of our successful application for a Community Ownership Fund grant earlier this year. We were pleased the Government approved our bid to buy the building, which would immediately kick start the renovation of this Grade II* listed building, keep the theatre running in the ownership of local people and providing the Portsmouth community with a place to watch and practice the arts. 
 
However… we have been informed the landlord has progressed another bid via a private auction site, abandoning the agreement he had to sell the building to the Trust and keep it in the hands of the community. 

That’s why we’re calling on our landlord to urgently:

• Reconsider his decision to potentially sell to a private developer and pull out of the sale. 
• Continue to sell the building to the Trust as he agreed to do (we have the money to purchase!).
• Allow the Theatre to be owned by the community, continue the valuable work it does for local people and build on the legacy left by our landlord.
• Let the Trust bring the building up to it’s former glory by unlocking funds to do so which are only granted if the trust owns the theatre. 
• To uphold the ‘Asset of Community Value’ as part of the ‘Localism Act’ which is currently placed on the building. 
   

The Trust has a long lease on the building which secures our future for now, but:

• The building is in urgent need of repair and is on both Historic England and Theatres at Risk watch list.
• A condition survey conducted in 2021 showed the building needs over £1million of legally urgent repair works to be completed that the landlord is ignoring.

• Funders such as  Historic England, Arts Council and National Lottery, that we have built relationships with, want to ensure their funds are not being used to support private owner’s development plans and legal obligations to maintain the building.  Without ownership or a specific lease, the Trust cannot bid for grants to restore the building. 

• The new landlord could attempt to increase our rent and force the Trust out of the building in order to develop it.

We have many exciting plans for the theatre and were well on our way to bringing the building back to its former glory and continuing the great work we do in the community. We need our landlord to reconsider this decision urgently to allow these plans to continue. 

Sign our petition today to support keeping the Groundlings Theatre community owned!
  
Next year, marks 240 years since the building was built to serve the community of Portsmouth and we want to  keep this wonderful building as a community asset for the next 240 years!  Thanks so much for your support!