Parting is such sweet sorrow
John & Katie Plews set to leave the stage of Upstairs at the Gatehouse.
John and Katie Plews launched Upstairs at the Gatehouse in 1997. It had long been a dream of John’s to own his own theatre and when the opportunity came along to convert the space above The Gatehouse pub, in Highgate, into a 128-seat theatre, they took it.
After a lot of wrangling with J.D. Wetherspoons (the pub owners at the time), John & Katie finally got the keys only to be told by their architects that it would take 15 months to complete the transformation. In addition, Camden Council said a Traffic Impact Survey would have to be undertaken to ensure that Highgate wouldn’t suffer with people driving to the theatre. Faced with spiralling costs, the couple undertook their own traffic survey (with permission of the Council), by sitting on the island outside the pub with clipboards. They also sacked their architects and employed local builders who managed to get the renovation completed in three months… in time to open for Christmas.
John & Katie are no strangers to the world of performing arts. John is an experienced director with hundreds of credits over the last forty years. Katie is an accomplished producer and has worked extensively in the performing arts behind the scenes. Before developing Upstairs at the Gatehouse, the couple ran Ovation, their own corporate events company and were highly sought after for their innovative approach with a client list that included the Yorkshire Building Society, Nivea and Taunton Cider.
In 1997 John and Katie returned to their theatrical roots and created a vibrant and thriving performance space, curating a diverse program of productions, welcoming professional touring companies, as well as supporting local community theatre groups. In addition to its regular theatre programme, Upstairs at the Gatehouse also hosts various festivals and special events. These have included comedy, magic and cabaret nights, showcases of new musical theatre talent and being a regular venue within the Camden Fringe Festival. Their dedication to providing quality theatre experiences in an intimate setting has earned them recognition and awards in the industry and reinforced their reputation as respected figures in the London theatre community.
After 25 years, John & Katie have decided that it is time to do something different and spend more time with their family. So, Upstairs at the Gatehouse now has a new management team, Annlouise Butt and her partner, Isaac Bernier-Doyle, of the Chromolume Theatre Company. Working alongside John & Katie as theatre manager for the last three years has given Annlouise a good insight into what the Highgate audience enjoys. She and Isaac are committed to ensuring the venue continues its legacy of staging musicals and revivals, alongside supporting new writers as well as those that have previously showcased work at the theatre.
Other changes include working closely with Urban Pubs & Bars, the new owners of the Gatehouse Pub, to change the current green room area into a theatre bar; together with plans for improving accessibility.
Whilst moving into a new era is equally thrilling, exciting and frightening, Annlouise and Isaac acknowledge that Katie and John have built up a strong, award-winning reputation for them to continue to build on. Although Katie & John may be retiring from Upstairs at the Gatehouse, they are not leaving the performing arts world altogether. Their company Ovation will now concentrate on licensing their shows rather than producing.
It’s the end of an era and the start of another and the team at Beach Media Publications wishes John & Katie and Annlouise & Isaac all the very best.
To see what’s on and book tickets visit www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com
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