Petitioners want theatre to stay

Concern over Novello’s potential demolition

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More than 1,200 people have signed a petition asking that the council not go ahead with the demolition of a historic theatre much valued by the people of Sunninghill.

Novello Theatre was built in the early part of the 20th century and was one of the original cinemas in the country, before becoming a small theatre.

It was leased to Redroofs, a Maidenhead theatre school, decades ago and remained that way for many years – but the community felt it was being underused.

The Novello was returned to the council following the surrender of the lease in June 2023.

However, in the council’s draft 2024/25 budget, the theatre is listed in a set of capital projects – set for potential demolition.

RBWM said that the building has asbestos and structural failings due to its age. The estimated cost of refurbishment would be about £1million – which the council considered to be ‘prohibitive’.

Across 2014-2016, the trustees of the Cordes Hall (a community venue next door) expressed an interest in returning it to broader community use. Lynda

Yong, former Royal Borough councillor for South Ascot / Sunninghill, remembers.

“The Novello Theatre was frequently discussed with the public, various committees and council officers,” she said.

“The officer at the time was acutely aware of the level of local interest to take over use of this building.

Councillor Josh Reynolds, the current cabinet member for communities and leisure, said he isn’t aware of conversations happening across this time period and believes few officers left in the council have this knowledge, as most have moved on from the council.

Cllr Reynolds said that, although people find it ‘scary,’ the demolition needs to be in the budget in case RBWM hears the building is dangerous and it needs to come down immediately.

Money earmarked in the budget does not mean the building will necessarily be demolished.

“I would love the community to be able to take it off the hands of the council and run it as the community would want,” he said.

He has been speaking to Alan Everett, who set up an ePetition appealing to the council not to demolish the Novello.

Lynda, for one, believes it would benefit the schools nearby as well as older people.

“This area also has the largest number of elderly residents in the country. Having this facility would open activities that currently they cannot access easily,” she said.

Though Cllr Reynolds previously suggested that Cordes Hall, next door, might fill the niche for the events offered by Novello, Lynda disagrees.

“The stage is not realty suitable for big productions,” she said.

Stewart McNair, descendant of the founders of the theatre, said there is a ‘strong case’ for this space to be managed alongside Cordes Hall, due to their complementing features.

An action group is being formed as volunteers step forward with offers of support in all areas involved in running this site, he said.

There was a public meeting on the matter held at Cordes Hall last week with a ‘terrific turnout’, where ‘feelings ran high,’ said Stewart.

“Despite a start that has been hindered by bureaucracy and obfuscation we, the community, are now fully aware of the availability of this very special community asset and we are determined to fight for it,” he said.

Petition leader Alan Everett said a ‘substantial donor’ has come on board to help finance the Novello’s return to community use.

Commenting on the petition, he said: “I think we can safely say the community has spoken.”

For more on the history of the theatre, see this article’s online version on the Windsor Express website.