Gala fundraiser to save popular Kingsclere building 24 Swan Street from developers

A 200-strong cast of local talent is joining together in an all-singing and dancing charity event to save 24 Swan Street in Kingsclere from being sold to developers.

‘Bring On Tomorrow’ will feature students from JLD School of Dance and the Kingsclere Performing Arts College (KPAC), which both operate out of the building and neighbouring 25 Swan Street, as well as pupils from Theatre Train, School of the Arts and Queen Mary's College.

They will be joined by Kingsclere Performing Arts alumni who are currently in training at the country’s finest training academies, drama schools, musical theatre colleges and conservatoires, as they return to support the cause.

The event will be performed at The Anvil in Basingstoke on Wednesday, April 6, at 7.30pm.

Money from ticket prices will go towards the goal of raising £25,000 – which is earmarked for a deposit on a mortgage.

The show is being co-produced by Juliette Caton, who played a young Éponine in the original West End production of Les Misérables, and is now head of voice and musical theatre at KPAC.

She said: “I feel very strongly that the community needs arts spaces and children need access to spaces to learn incredibly valuable life skills.

“Irrespective of whether they want to be professional performers, it’s fundamental to a child’s happiness and upbringing, if that’s their passion.

“There aren’t many spaces you can really do that, especially in a small village like Kingsclere.

“It’s a beautiful building, and there’s no regard for the impact selling it will have on the local community.”

Mrs Caton, who has her own theatre school in Reading, School of the Arts, said next week’s show would be a “special” event.

She continued: “It’s a special performance because all the different young performers groups that are performing side-by-side all have a connection.

“There are so many different groups that are all rallying together because each of those groups recognises how essential a space like this is to the ability of performing arts to train.”

Tickets are £33 and are available at https://www.anvilarts.org.uk/whats-on/event/bring-on-tomorrow.

The building at 24 Swan Street is owned by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, which has put it up for sale after claiming it has been running at a loss for 20 years and wasn’t viewed as a long-term asset.

However, the building has been home to JLD School of Dance for around three decades and has provided a home for hundreds of young dancers over the years, while Baughurst Blades and Eira’s Equestian Supplies also operate out of it.

In December last year, the building was granted Asset of Community Value status, meaning the Kingsclere Performing Arts and Youth Centre, a community interest company, now has a moratorium period to get a bid together to put forward an offer to purchase the building.

This CIC is hoping to be the community landlord, working in conjunction with charity Kingsclere Performing Arts and Youth Trust.

The building also provides parking for many residents on Swan Street, as well as local businesses and employees.