Our Tricycle Admin

History eradicated

Protest, Tricycle / By

What I find unacceptable is that, having been keeping an eye on what’s going on at 269 Kilburn High Road, there is now no reference in any shape or form to the Tricycle within the building (apart from the carpet in the cinema which I assume is as yet unchanged).

Even the Rachel Dedman ‘A Thousand Hands’ exhibition, which included a reference to the setting up of The Foresters Hall etc in 1928 and various other historical detail, didn’t manage to refer to the Tricycle. It is as if the rebranders are deliberately trying to eradicate an important and long part of the history of the building – cultural vandalism indeed.

I had been told that the automaton is safe and in good order. I would love to see it reinstalled somewhere on site. There would of course be other appropriate ways of referencing and marking the Tricycle years but to let them get away with this elimination of the past is unpalatable and wrong.

At the very least I should write to the artistic director to let her know my views. Hailing from Sheffield she should be aware of the value of remembering and cherishing history which has enabled the present.

At least we do still have the 1980 commemorative stone in the pavement down the road.

Paul Handley, Tricycle supporter

Former mayor supports Tricycle

Protest, Tricycle / By

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.”

Save our Tricycle

Uncategorized / By

tricycle theatre kilburn logo kilnWe have put together an email list of 31 activists who are contributing in different ways. Sadly, the theatre’s strategy is to stonewall us. They won’t answer any of our questions, eg about the consultation they claim to have done and the support they claim to have, as if they feared that doing so might dignify us.

Yet, we’ve held about 20 online conversations in front of 2,200 people… 106 people spoke against the name change, three in favour. We have 750 signatures on a paper petition and 1,250 on an online petition. We’ve spoken to hundreds of people face to face – nobody thinks the name change a good idea. The main reaction is incredulity.

Perhaps they know they cannot win a PR battle so are choosing not to engage in one but it’s an insult by a community theatre to the community it serves, in which it lives and it’s offensive to those who, for 35 years have regularly bailed them out of one crisis or another, including the 1987 fire. The people of Kilburn have saved the Tricycle before and intend to do so again.

Kilburn rallies for our Tricycle

3 Comments / Tricycle / By

It’s our Tricycle, its our Kilburn, and we’re grateful you agree.

It came as a shock to a lot of theatre-goers from Kilburn and beyond to discover that the Tricycle, a theatre that has stood on Kilburn High Road since 1981, was to be rebranded to Kiln. The decision seemed so out of character for such an iconic venue – why throw away almost 40 years of history in favour of a clunky, awkward name with only the most tenuous connection to the local area?

We felt confused, even angry. For all Kiln’s talk of wide-ranging local consultations, we couldn’t find anyone for whom this wasn’t an unwelcome surprise. The only third party with anything positive to say on the subject was the marketing agency who had introduced the name and logo.

The penny dropped – the opinions of local residents and longstanding fans of the Tricycle had been ignored in favour of a fashionable company with no connection to Kilburn. So we decided not to let this stand, and we’re so glad that you felt the same.

When so much of the character of London’s neighbourhoods is being paved over, it matters that ordinary people have united around a wish to see a true cultural institution continue with its legacy and history intact.

Our first objective is to get Kiln to finally provide some evidence for the consultations they claim to have had with local Kilburn residents. We have asked repeatedly, and each time been met with radio silence. We’ll be using our new social media channels to ensure that theatre management know we’re not going to put up with this lack of transparency. When they do finally answer, we’ll make sure everyone knows.

We also want to be clear that we are not seeking to dictate the Tricycle’s artistic journey. We wholeheartedly support its director in her admirable attempts to widen the theatre’s appeal and accessibility. Schemes such as the new pricing structure are meaningful and positive changes, and we are with the theatre every step of the way in its mission to bring great drama to the community. We simply ask that the Tricycle’s history, identity and its place in our hearts are respected, and that we can continue to walk past our treasured Tricycle Theatre and delight in its future.

Thank you so much for supporting our campaign. We promise that we won’t give up on the Tricycle, and we promise we’ll keep you in the loop every step of the way.

Our Tricycle Campaign

Take 3-wheeled action

Tricycle / By

The name of the Tricycle Theatre has been changed without fair consultation.

The local community, which has loyally supported it for many years, believe this attempt at re-branding the theatre is unnecessary, costly and squanders the established reputation of the Tricycle. We demand they reverse this pointless decision.

Please take 3-wheeled action:

1. Telephone (020 7328 1000) or email the Tricycle Theatre (marketing@kilntheatre.com)

2. Sign our petition and share it with your friends and contacts to ask them to sign it too.

3. Write to the Board members – details here.