Loved but dilapidated Novello Theatre to get a new lease of life

After years of underuse and uncertainty, Sunninghill’s Novello Theatre – once under threat of demolition – is returning to community use, refurbished and repaired.

The historic building in Sunninghill High Street is one of Britain’s original cinemas, built in 1908, and later becoming a small theatre.

It has a long history of triumphs and worries, including a campaign led by a 13-year-old girl that successfully prevented it from being sold for redevelopment in 1966.

The council eventually bought the Novello for £5,500 (roughly equivalent to £120,000 today).

Until recently, it remained in the ownership of the Royal Borough, leased out to others. But after a 20-year lease to a private theatre school ended in 2023, it had sadly fallen into disrepair.

The Novello was left in a dilapidated state, with asbestos and serious structural problems – and Royal Borough officers warned that any refurbishment could cost up to £1million.

With the council facing serious financial pressures, the Novello was listed for potential demolition in the Borough’s draft 2024/25 budget.

But residents rallied, gathering nearly 2,000 signatures on a petition calling for the building to be saved and returned to community use.

There was a highly visible campaign led by the Save the Novello Theatre group, which raised awareness, organised public meetings and secured support from high-profile figures including Sir Kenneth Branagh.

The council agreed to sell the Novello in April last year and discussed it at a meeting then – though there were serious concerns raised about the asking price.

The sale price for community use was set at £300,000, but this was considered a ‘tough’ figure for the community to reach, as the actual value of the Novello (given its many difficulties) was basically ‘zero’.

But RBWM’s leaders said the Royal Borough was ‘skirting the edge of bankruptcy’ and they felt they had a responsibility to try to achieve best value from any asset sales.

Now The Sunninghill Trust has stepped in to buy the theatre for that asking price of £300,000.

As such, it looks as though the Novello will be restored to its original purpose as a vibrant venue for the arts, serving Sunninghill as it did more than a century ago.

The Sunninghill Trust offers grants for hardship relief, elderly care, and community projects in Sunninghill, Ascot and Cheapside.

Long-time trustee Wayne Phelan said the trust is now working with professionals to remove asbestos and fix up the fabric of the building, which it expects will take about a year.

“It has not had any care, love or attention in decades,” he said.

“We bought it so it can be secured for future generations.”

Once restored, it will be leased to Cordes Hall – the charity next door – which will be responsible for fitting it out for community use.

The plan is to create a flexible space suitable for theatre productions, school performances, and wider community activity.

“The big difference now is that anyone – school groups, local residents, community organisations – will be able to use the space,” said Wayne. “It really will be a building for everyone.”