Protest

History eradicated

Protest, Tricycle / By

What I find unacceptable is that, having been keeping an eye on what’s going on at 269 Kilburn High Road, there is now no reference in any shape or form to the Tricycle within the building (apart from the carpet in the cinema which I assume is as yet unchanged).

Even the Rachel Dedman ‘A Thousand Hands’ exhibition, which included a reference to the setting up of The Foresters Hall etc in 1928 and various other historical detail, didn’t manage to refer to the Tricycle. It is as if the rebranders are deliberately trying to eradicate an important and long part of the history of the building – cultural vandalism indeed.

I had been told that the automaton is safe and in good order. I would love to see it reinstalled somewhere on site. There would of course be other appropriate ways of referencing and marking the Tricycle years but to let them get away with this elimination of the past is unpalatable and wrong.

At the very least I should write to the artistic director to let her know my views. Hailing from Sheffield she should be aware of the value of remembering and cherishing history which has enabled the present.

At least we do still have the 1980 commemorative stone in the pavement down the road.

Paul Handley, Tricycle supporter

Spring at last

Protest, Tricycle / By

Since Spring 2018, by standing outside the theatre with a clipboard (thank you Richard, Jean, Judy and Ags), by having stalls at Summer festivals (thank you Sally) and farmers markets (thank you Alison and Paul), and via an online petition (thank you Maggie and Phil) we’ve collected and collated over 3,500 petition signatures (thank you Linda).

Few will have seen us in the winter months but as spring returns, it’s time to collect a lot more. We’ve not been idle (thank you Frankie, Celia, Terry, Mr S, Lynda, Rupert and Glenis) and now you can sign our petition on our website where, in keeping with GDPR regulations, you can also join our mailing list if you wish (thank you Phil).
If you do, you’ll be the first to hear from us when they restore the internationally-
famous name of the crown jewel of Kilburn High Road, the Tricycle Theatre.

The website (thank you Alex and Bosco) has been rewritten over the winter months (thank you Rachel). There you can now read all our previous newsletters (thank you Philippa) and we’ve introduced infographics to convey our purpose more quickly (thank you Heidi). We’ve changed our old colours (thank you Duncan) in order to promote the blue and white colour scheme and Helvetica font of our beloved Tricycle Theatre. On the website we’ve published as much as we can of about 100 press articles we’ve so far managed to generate and added blog posts like this one by me, Martin. You may have found your way here via Facebook advertising (thank you Paula) and if you have any feedback we’d be glad to receive it.

Our campaign team celebrated together in December (thank you Alan) and March (thank you Patrick). It remains for me to thank Wendy and Rob, Rosalie and the secret Triker, Aleks and Mary, Pam and the lady at No.58, Yvonne and Tim, Nick and Candice, Sandy and Nicola, Jody and Eugene, Bev and Jason, Marion and Anna. I can’t not mention Ken Chubb and his wife, the late Shirley Barrie, who started the Tricycle. Oh, and of course I must thank The Stage magazine for the accolade, awarding us the “Most Pointless Protest of 2018” award. To paraphrase the wonderful Olivia Coleman, if I’ve missed anyone out, meet me later and I’ll give you a massive snog.

Former mayor supports Tricycle

Protest, Tricycle / By

People campaigning against the change of name of the Tricycle theatre and cinema were joined by former London mayor Ken Livingstone during a candlelit vigil on Monday (5 November) to mark the press night for Zadie Smith’s White Teeth.

The theatre, now called Kiln, reopened in September after being dark for two years for refurbishment. But its new look has been marred by protests against the change of name, which was announced in the national press in April.

Mr Livingstone, who lives in Cricklewood, said: “The Tricycle was the pride and joy of Kilburn and put it on the London map. Any cab driver would know where it was. Now it’s been replaced with a name people hate and no one will explain why.

“Everyone wants the re-opened theatre to succeed, but the name change is completely unnecessary for that to happen. Why would you dump such a great brand, without consulting the community that supported the theatre for nearly 40 years, and without any explanation? It makes no sense.”