Last Hurrah for Bike Shed Theatre & Bar

After eight extraordinary years, The Bike Shed Theatre and Bar will close its doors on 31 March.

The Bike Shed first opened as a pop-up, transforming two dank cellars into a make-shift cocktail bar and theatre.  The response was overwhelmingly positive withThe Guardian crediting the venue as ‘keeping theatre alive in Exeter’. Locals could see some of the most exciting new theatre from across the country and people would queue around the block to get in as the venue’s reputation for dancing and DJs grew. 

Having decided to stay in its Fore Street home, the theatre continued to gain national recognition. A Peter Brook Empty Space Award was soon followed by an award for the UK Theatre’s Most Welcoming Theatre. Most recently, the venue swept up two of the inaugural Exeter Living Awards for Best Watering Hole and Best Arts Organisation.

Since then, many new bars have sprung up in Exeter echoing the Bike Shed’s offering of cocktails and late night dancing. The bar, a separate business to the theatre,  is no longer able to pay profits over to the theatre. 

David Lockwood, co-founder and Director explained: "We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to achieve and we continue to believe in a quality of experience.  We don’t want to lessen our offer or sell out to a national chain.   And so, with a very heavy heart and after a lot of attempts to find a way to keep on going, we’ve decided to close up. However, theatre by its very nature is ephemeral and sometimes there’s a need for things to fall for other to grow. There’s every chance that our exit leaves the scene free for others to create their own things, better things, wonderful things."

The company will continue to pursue projects outside of the building, most notably the Boat Shed which will see the transformation of derelict warehouses on Exeter’s quay into a space for music theatre and start-up businesses.

"We’re being supported in our plans by our very understanding funders Arts Council England and Exeter City Council’ said David.  ‘In the meantime, we invite everyone who’s ever enjoyed our venue to sing us out and join us for a fantastic programme until the end of March. Powderkeg are putting some lines in for beer on tap, we’re serving pizzas from The Flat and we’d be delighted to host a party for anyone who wants to gather friends and celebrate  the end of this extraordinary chapter with us."

For a full list of events at The Bike Shed Theatre until 31 March 2018, visit www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk