“One of London’s most magical historic venues”Time Out

       “This is the most important surviving early music hall to be seen anywhere......It is of outstanding architectural and archaeological significance”The Theatres Trust

      Wilton’s is arguably the oldest and last surviving Grand Music Hall in the world, it is a unique survivor of the giant pub music halls of the 1850s. Wilton’s has a fascinating history that has seen this building journey from ale house to music hall and Methodist mission to rag warehouse, eventually being left derelict and half forgotten.

      The Wilton’s Music Hall Trust has lovingly coaxed the building back to life and it has been producing shows regularly since 2004. The work you can see at Wilton’s today is imaginative and distinctive, usually with its roots in the early music hall tradition but reinterpreted for an audience of today. There is a veritable mixed bag of surprise and delight – from baroque operas in 3D animation to ping pong tournaments on stage. Wilton’s is situated at the start of the historic East End – on the edge of the City, within easy walking distance from The Tower of London and the river and just south of Spitalfields and Brick Lane.

      I first heard the story of a secret buried church from my father, Jeffrey Mayhew, when he came back from one of his trips to Romania (quite a few years ago now) where he would spend the summer holidays in orphanages running drama therapy courses. He had always thought it would make a good play and when Julian Garner (who also got the story from my dad) had the inspiration to write the story as you will see now in Father Nandru & The Wolves, it felt like it was developed alongside Wilton’s own story of survival like parallel lines. The story has many layers, a truly poetic modern folk tale, and as we know the truths from the story – it is a stark reminder that we must bring people and communities together, for that way we can destroy prejudice and become stronger.

      During the building work (due to run June 2014 – Autumn 2015), performances will continue as much as possible and you are invited to discover The Chrysalis Club, an exciting pop-up venture. After the works are complete we hope you will not notice that we have repaired the building so extensively as we will endeavour to keep its current charm and character. There will be more performance spaces, studios, educational programmes, visitor rooms, a bakery and brasserie and we will be open more for you to enjoy and engage with Wilton’s.

      A history of the hall is available from the box office or online (wiltons.org.uk) or you may want to join one of our regular guided tours.

      This production could not have happened without the support of Arts Council England and Backstage Trust.

      Frances Mayhew

      Artistic and Managing Director

      Wilton’s Music Hall Trust

       Wilton’s Team

      Artistic & Managing Director Frances Mayhew

      Technical Director Filippo de Capitani

      Development Director Kate Mitchell

      Development Director (Maternity Cover) Dorcas Morgan

      Office Manager Becky Ruffell

      Building Manager Jon Freeman

      Marketing Manager Oona Patterson

      Archive & Interpretation Manager Gabrielle St John-McAlister

      Bar Manager Rebecca Trebilcock

      Assistant Bar Manager Nicola Grant

      Cocktail Bar Manager Gabriele Barbetti

      Researcher & Tour Guide Carole Zeidman

      Learning & Participation Officer David Graham

      Sound Technologist & Technician Michele Panegrossi

      Financial Advisor Mary Coulson

      Heritage Lottery Fund Administrator Michelle Card

      Finance Team Tracey Williams & Lynn Lindeque

      Box Office Rosie Smith Oliver

      The Mahogany Bar Team

      Cleaners John Thomas & Neli Barekova

       The Board of Trustees

      Trustees: David Pennock (Chair), Frances Mayhew,

      Jeremy Friedlander, Dr John Gayner, Kathleen Herron,

      Cllr Denise Jones, Frank Kelsall, Jonathan Kitchen,

      George Marsh, Abdus Shukur, Linda Simpson & Lucy Porten

       Wilton’s Donor’s and Sponsors

       Wilton’s couldn’t survive on ticket sales alone, so thank you to the wonderful patrons and supporters listed below

       PATRONS

      Patron HRH The Prince of Wales

      Campaign Patron David Suchet

       Honorary Patrons

      Marc Almond

      Henry Goodman

      Rosamund Pike

       John Wilton’s Inner Circle

      Nidaa Al Ghazal &

      Maxime Hennequet

      Deborah & David Owen

      Stephen & Linda Simpson

       Can Can Dancer

      Anonymous

      Jonathan Kitchen

       Champagne Charlie

      Anonymous

      Kate Bonner

      Clyde Cooper

      Ruth Finch

      Dr. & Mrs. Gayner

      Mike Kavanagh & Mark Aspery

      George & Ann Marsh

      Anna Marzec-Manser

      Georgia Oetker

      Jeremy Reynolds

      Anthony Roberts

      Rev’d. David Rogers

       FRIENDS

       Shilling Boxes

      Anonymous

      John Bean

      Colin & Anna Frizzell Charitable Trust

      Jean Hawkins

      Nicholas