EMD Restoration Visit

Prologue

Once upon a time there was a boy who fell in love with a girl who lived in Walthamstow. The girl was in a group called the McGuffins who once protested a cinema chain which was being mean to a small, local independent cinema and were now a film club that showed cool films once a month. The boy started to help with the film nights and the pub quiz. You may have seen him handing out and collecting answer sheets.

Then an evil cult bought the cinema and tried to turn it into church even though fair Walthamstow has fucking dozens of churches and no cinema. The McGuffins took their broadswords from the wall and waded into town planning battle. The cult was repelled but jealously kept the beautiful, old cinema building….

I just wanted you to understand why there will be much swearing in about two minutes of your reading time.

The EMD Today

After the council did a compulsory purchase order and let Muffins, Mudlarks and Mafia open a pub they scouted around for a partner to help return the building to an entertainment venue. They found the Soho Theatre. And are now looking to develop the building. As part of that invitations were extended to many of the community who had been involved with the EMD or the fight to save it. And this invite was spread on the McGuffins email list. I requested a slot on the 8pm tour as I needed to commute from West London.

I turned up at the former Yum-Yum restaurant, turned by the council into a temporary bar for the evening. There I met up with my partner Vicky and fellow McGuffin crew Lorna and Dina who had done the 6:30 tour. While waiting for my group to depart I had a read of the posters giving an overview of the project and the EMD’s history.

After a while McGuffin founder John turned up for the 8pm slot too so we gathered for the introduction by Soho Theatre rep Hannah and council rep Janna (seriously, give them a microphone each and they could win Eurovision for Luxembourg). As they took us from there, to opposite the cinema to the entryway down its side they gave a potted history including acknowledging the McGuffin’s contribution. Then we headed in to a side door to the main auditorium.

A cycling display of famous names that played the EMD. The development is vocal about preserving heritage.

It was deeply weird being there again. The last time was the glorious closing night where I was working checking tickets in the upper circle. 16 years later and I’m back into that ornate, baroque room.

The tour had a bit more history and the group split in two. First up was a VR experience showing an architect’s impression of a potential restoration. I noticed this future had a second circle added and when I asked Hannah about this was told this was a possibility being considered but the target capacity was 1000 no matter the layout (making it a small, but comfortable, venue). Apparently the architect is still working with the council and nothing is finalised.

The next stage was a scaffolding climb which gave a view over the upper circle.

The upper circle seating is still in place, although I dread to think what state it must be in after a decade of UCKG neglect.

I was told the famous organ has been found but not checked over. I don’t hold out much hope of it being recoverable.

Look at this beautiful vent cover. Destroyed by the neglect of god-bothering, ignorant cunts.

I got to go up on the stage for the first time ever, which was odd.

One day some young, upcoming comedian will see this view. Probably just as blurry if they have some ‘Dutch courage’ in them.

While wandering John and I ran into Dave and Nick, two of the volunteers who had done so much work restoring the original interior when it was the EMD. They were clearly sad at the damage but enthused by the new lease of life.

The main ceiling clearly has surface damage but looks intact.

Sadly after an hour I needed to get going and find food. I bid farewell to friends and headed home.

Epilogue

My 20 minute walk back to Higham Hill gave me a lot of time to think about what I’d seen and I have a few opinions:

• I think the Soho Theatre partnership is the best option. Not too big that it will lose acts to more central venues. Small enough to have a range of touring acts most every night.
• The expected restoration will take 3 years. Which will mean the slow march of gentrification will probably make the place even more economically viable.
• They are pushing heavily for mixed use and community engagement. Family events, music and even film.
• A bar and cafe are planned. Not that Hoe street needs another cafe.
• The future of the Victoria Pub has not been secured.
• I’m proud of my community’s tenacity in the face of a disgustingly rich, entitled cult. It’ll be nearly 20 years from the EMD’s closure to the first act on that stage.
• Fuck the fucking UCKG.

Much of the detailing is in good condition. I hope it’s there for a hundred years more.

EMD Planning evening

So lots of people have already written about the night, the result and how the UCKG bussed in loads of supporters who then crammed the public seats and attempted to intimidate the planning committee. As I was one of the many left outside I joined in the chanting and community spirit that was in abundance. We crowded around smart phones following the twitter news from inside. We enjoyed the rousing bagpipe music. And we celebrated heartily after the result. I hear the Rose and Crown was heaving with winning spirit. I was in The Village with the rest of the McGuffins, Bill and John having a much needed relaxing drink after a very stressful day.

Apparently the UCKG plan to appeal but really have no ground to do so. I suspect they’ll try what they’ve just done – change the planning application and ‘dress it up’ as anything other than the change of use which they want. But their lies were exposed at Catford and what they did there has come back to bite them.

Viva Awesomestow and its fighting spirit!