The Granada Cinema in Walthamstow, north London has long served as a cultural and community landmark in north east London. Originally opened in 1929 as a grand single- screen cinema, the building has taken on many roles since, from a music venue in the 1950s and 60s to a three-screen multiplex in the 1970s. After a brief stint as a bingo hall the building – which is fondly referred to by its original title ‘Granada Cinema’ – closed its doors in 2003 and remained empty for over a decade. But there is life in the old building yet – and this month the building opened its doors as ‘Soho Theatre Walthamstow’.

Soho Theatre Walthamstow (a community interest company) will manage the transformed venue on a long-term partnership agreement, promising to deliver a local theatre with a national profile.

At the heart of the complex is the main auditorium restored with help from experts at Theatre Projects and Charcoalblue. The result is the thorough preservation of Art Deco interiors by Komisarjevsky. In adjusting the seating arrangement to become steeper, the architects were able to design an additional foyer on the lower ground level serving the stalls, as well as a new bar at the rear of the upper circle. New back of house spaces have also been created, along with two additional circulation cores on either side to improve accessibility throughout.

Architectural paint researcher and analyst Helen Hughes, conducted a meticulous paint analysis that revealed how the walls throughout the site would have appeared over Granada Theatres various iterations. Her findings have influenced rich pairings of sparkly golds, and deep pink velvets. A double-height lobby and upper foyer have been restored to their original bubble-gum pink hue, and remain open throughout the day as a community space.

Another welcome addition is the new suit of spaces which will host smaller shows, workshops and educational programmes. These sit above the foyer which is accessed from the original restored Hoe Street facade.