Future Polka Theatre (London Borough of Merton)
The Polka Theatre project is an £8.5m extension and refurbishment of a children’s theatre specialising in theatre for ages 0-12 years by Foster Wilson Architects.
The new spaces include performance, rehearsal, learning and play spaces and the funding has enabled the site to be fully accessible to children/performers with disabilities.
It has created new space for sensory theatre, performances and family activities at a site that sits on a huge divide in the borough of Merton close to areas of high deprivation.
Project status: Completed September 2021
Project Value: £8.5m (£1.2m Good Growth Fund)
Funding Programme: Good Growth Fund
Project Keywords: Play space, high streets, young people, social infrastructure, education & training, community spaces, theatre, arts
A partnership delivering for the community
Polka Theatre has been involved with initiatives such as the Let’s Do London campaign and wider efforts to support London’s post-pandemic recovery, engaging key mayoral priorities such as supporting young people and skills.
A specialist assistance team helped design the play facilities for the project, and improve accessibility for people with limited mobility.
The project benefitted from £2.5 million National Lottery funding and received support from the Cultural Capital Kickstart Fund.
Project location
51.419686219907, -0.19496169999999
Delivering a fairer and more prosperous city
The Polka Theatre project has provided the following local training and employment opportunities:
- 290 volunteering opportunities created
- 112 square metres of commercial / business space being created or improved
- 80.3 square metres of affordable workspace targeted at artists created
- 3 shopfronts/building frontages improved
The project encourages London’s diverse communities to come together.
Highlights include:
- 766 cultural events taking place
- 27,414 people accessing an existing cultural organisation for the first time (total on-site visitors during Aug 2021 - Aug 2022)
- 89.9 per cent increase in visitor satisfaction (overall satisfaction rating for August 2022)
Other engagement programmes
GGF funding also supported the following engagement programmes:
- Polka LAB which works to increase the diversity of creative staff and creative industries, for example, writers, actors, directors
- The Free-Falling programme which engages children in challenging circumstances at home
- Intergenerational creative opportunities and community led programmes
- Sensory experiences for children with sensory needs
Project team
Delivery partner: Polka Theatre
Local authority: Merton Council
Project partners and principal co-funders: Cultural Capital Kickstart Fund, National Lottery funding (£2.5 million)
Architect: Foster Wilson Architects
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