For me this was a hugely enjoyable, emotional and poignant week-long, lunchtime happening! The event was constantly lively, potent and provocative. It was an unexpected treat to see just how the old venue came to life again, although a little run down now, certainly compared with the rich fringe ambience 45 years ago. That was when the brilliant stage and the foyer area were redolent with home-made soup, fresh chicken liver pâte and coffee, the faint aroma of the cork wall-tiles as the bright pillar-box red pillars and seating, in tiers, so often filled to 48 person capacity, ruled!
"It was clear last week that the same old magic was not so very far away. The proximity of the 2017 audiences at their scattered tables to the various, sometimes wandering, sometimes stationary speakers, artists, poets and performers created once again a familiar close contact and inter-personal electricity. Magic indeed!
-Fred Proud, the original Artistic Director
More attendee feedback
- “We were transported to another world, while being here.”
- “Please open the old Soho Poly permanently.”
- “More lunchtime culture please!”
- “It has made me determined to go to more fringe events.”
- “The use of this unique space with its history was a brilliant idea.”
- “Loved it.”
- “It was good to experience something completely different during a lunchtime.”
- “Use it again as a performance space.”
- “It was fabulous to resurrect the space and fabulous to think about the history.”
- “What could be improved? ‘nothing’.”
- “This is a space with a unique atmosphere, steeped in history. I hope it will be saved to continue its contribution to experimental and community theatre” – Jennifer Kavanagh (read her full blog post).