The Above the Stag theatre venue in Vauxhall, South London, has announced that it has closed with immediate effect.
The theatre was dedicated to hosting LGBTQ+ productions and performers, and also had a busy theatre bar.
Their latest show – Straight & Narrow by Jimmie Chinn starring Lewis Allcock, Todd Von Joel, Harriett Hare and Kerry Enright, and directed by Mark Curry, had its press night on Thursday 4 August, and was scheduled to run until 28 August 2022.
In an email and in social media posts, the venue stated that: “To all Above The Stag stakeholders (issued at 9.30am on Sunday 7 August 2022). Above the Stag ceased trading and permanently closed its Vauxhall venue at 9:30am on Sunday 7 August 2022. An explanatory statement will be issued at 12 noon on Tuesday 9 August 2022. Ticket holders with future bookings will be refunded in full. Trade creditors, staff, creatives, actors and technicians with any outstanding amounts due will be paid in full. Thank you to all stakeholders for their loyal support. Please address all enquiries to: enquiries@abovethestag.org.uk”
Above the Stag staged an annual roster of in-house and receiving productions, from comedy and stand-up, to new theatre work and a popular Christmas pantomime.
There had been no build up to the closure, with the venue recently opening a new cabaret space.
Above the Stag was originally a pub theatre venue at The Stag pub in Victoria, before moving to Vauxhall in 2012. In June 2018 after a major fundraising campaign, they moved to their current premises on Albert Embankment.
For its latest accounts, up to 31 December 2020, the venue showed a total expenditure of £1,128,078, against an income of £917,389. The trustees are Lisa Kelly, Katherine Ives and Matthew Baldwin Smith.
