Groundlings Theatre reveals how it is struggling in coronavirus lockdown after devastating burglary

By Richard Lemmer

Published 18th May 2020, 17:07 BST

Updated 18th May 2020, 20:16 BST

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A THEATRE has told how it is struggling through coronavirus lockdown as it still tries to recover from a devastating burglary.

It comes after doors and computers were damaged at the Groundlings Theatre in Portsea in a raid in September last year.

Two men, 39 and 37, have now been charged with burglary and are due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on August 6.

Richard Stride, who was artistic director at the time, said damage done in the burglary came close to shutting down the 236-year-old theatre.

Thieves were caught ransacking the Groundlings Theatre in Kent Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, on the morning of September 29. This picture shows a cupboard containing the theatre's safe smashed open. Picture: Richard Stride — Thieves were caught ransacking the Groundlings Theatre in Kent Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, on the morning of September 29. This picture shows a cupboard containing the theatre's safe smashed open. Picture: Richard Stride | Other 3rd Party

Thieves were caught ransacking the Groundlings Theatre in Kent Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, on the morning of September 29. This picture shows a cupboard containing the theatre's safe smashed open. Picture: Richard Stride — Thieves were caught ransacking the Groundlings Theatre in Kent Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, on the morning of September 29. This picture shows a cupboard containing the theatre's safe smashed open. Picture: Richard Stride | Other 3rd Party

That left the theatre with an insurance claim of close to £30,000 that has only been partially paid.

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He said: ‘The claim was £29,000 – but we’ve only had £15,000 so far.

‘We’re fighting to get the rest. There was so much damage.’

Richard Stride, who was the artistic director at Groundlings Theatre, Kent Road, Portsmouth, when the burglary took place last September. — Richard Stride, who was the artistic director at Groundlings Theatre, Kent Road, Portsmouth, when the burglary took place last September. | JPIMedia

Richard Stride, who was the artistic director at Groundlings Theatre, Kent Road, Portsmouth, when the burglary took place last September. — Richard Stride, who was the artistic director at Groundlings Theatre, Kent Road, Portsmouth, when the burglary took place last September. | JPIMedia

Richard, who remains the leaseholder of the building, has ‘huge’ debts from running it.

He hopes to pay them off through rent on the lease.

He said: ‘It will take three years to pay off the debts.’

Groundlings Theatre is now being managed by a trust, which has received a small business grant and is applying for more funds through a government loan scheme to help it survive the coronavirus pandemic.

All six members of the staff are furloughed until the end of July.

But Richard remains hopeful the theatre, which remains closed, can adapt to the social distancing measures put in place to slow the spread of the virus.

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He said: ‘(Covid-19) will devastate theatres across the whole country unless the government steps in and does a massive bail out.

‘At the Groundlings you can practise social distancing because we have round tables and no fixed seating, so with some tweaks you can make it work.

‘Groundlings is in a better position compared to most theatres, but it’s still difficult.’

A Hampshire police spokesman said: ‘Two men have been summonsed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on August 6.

‘This is for the offence of burglary.’

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