People campaigning against the change of name of the Tricycle theatre and cinema were joined by former London mayor Ken Livingstone during a candlelit vigil on Monday (5 November) to mark the press night for Zadie Smith’s White Teeth.
The theatre, now called Kiln, reopened in September after being dark for two years for refurbishment. But its new look has been marred by protests against the change of name, which was announced in the national press in April.
Mr Livingstone, who lives in Cricklewood, said: “The Tricycle was the pride and joy of Kilburn and put it on the London map. Any cab driver would know where it was. Now it’s been replaced with a name people hate and no one will explain why.
“Everyone wants the re-opened theatre to succeed, but the name change is completely unnecessary for that to happen. Why would you dump such a great brand, without consulting the community that supported the theatre for nearly 40 years, and without any explanation? It makes no sense.”