St Albans’ Abbey Theatre still in business despite building work

DESPITE being hidden behind hoardings at the back of the new Westminster Lodge leisure centre construction site, the Abbey Theatre has put out a message – we’re still here.

The theatre, which is the home of the Company of Ten drama group, has voiced its concerns to the district council on a number of occasions about the impact on its audiences from the loss of the car parking in front of the building and its position behind a building site.

Hoardings put up around the construction site have now taken away the last remaining car parking spaces in front of the Abbey Theatre but chairman Paul Davidson said this week: “It’s business as usual at the theatre while the new leisure centre is being built.”

He warned theatregoers that the car parking arrangements had changed and the one-way system which previously operated at Westminster Lodge had been reversed. But he pointed out there were signs in place and a map and explanation on the theatre’s website www.abbeytheatre.org.uk.

Urging people to “please keep coming” he said there was a new car park behind the swimming pool and the elderly and disabled could still be dropped off at the theatre.

The Company of Ten’s next production, the Ben Travers’ farce Rookery Nook, opens tomorrow and runs until next Saturday, June 18.