Stanley Arts

Stanley Arts Stanley Arts is one of South London’s premiere arts and performance venues. We stand up for our family. We stand out from the crowd. We stand for Stanley.

Our vision

Stanley Arts welcomes all audiences and all artists, but is particularly welcoming to communities that have previously been excluded from creative spaces. Our artistic family includes the widest range of artists working in dance, music, theatre, performance, visual arts, and crafts. We seek to give emerging artists across all these art forms the opportunity to grow through innovation, collaboration and participation. With a particular eye on the creative technologies of the future, we embrace opportunities to create and share work through digital media. We stand proud of our heritage. We stand together with our community. Our history

Stanley Arts started life as a charity in 2013, named Stanley People’s Initiative. The organisation was established by the local community to take over management from Croydon Council of the two thirds of the historic Stanley Halls complex that was left behind when the Stanley Upper Hall and Clocktower were absorbed into the new Harris Academy. Since 2015 Stanley Arts has sought to revitalise, reimagine and restore the remaining parts of the Stanley Halls complex, staying true to the original vision of William Stanley; whilst reinterpreting it for a new century. Stanley wished to promote Justice, Liberty and Science through the sharing of culture and art with the widest possible cross-section of local people. Stanley Arts aims to do the same, whilst preserving our unique buildings for future generations.

🌈✨ Step right up! Mr Bubbles is coming to town with “The Bubble Show”! Get ready to be dazzled by whimsical soap bubbles...
11/09/2026

🌈✨ Step right up! Mr Bubbles is coming to town with “The Bubble Show”! Get ready to be dazzled by whimsical soap bubbles in all shapes and sizes! 🎉

Join us as we witness the exciting eruption of the bubble volcano and the spiraling marvel of the fire tornado! This isn’t just any bubble show—it’s an interactive adventure where magic, storytelling, and science collide in a breathtaking display of bubble artistry!

Leading this enchanting experience is the legendary Highland Joker, a Guinness World Record Holder and one of the foremost bubble artists in the world! 🌟

Whether you’re a wide-eyed child or a child at heart, come let your imagination soar into the spectacular world of bubbles!

📍 Location: Stanley Hall
🗓 Date: Sep 27
⏰ Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm or 2 pm - 3pm
🎟 Tickets: £11
👶 Ages: 3+ (advisory but all ages welcome)

Don’t miss out on this mesmerizing experience! 💫

Do you love history? 🏛️ Join us this Sunday 13th September, as we open the doors of our 123-year-old venue for the Open ...
11/09/2026

Do you love history? 🏛️ Join us this Sunday 13th September, as we open the doors of our 123-year-old venue for the Open House Festival!

First opened in 1903, Stanley Arts has been a beacon for our local community, showcasing the rich legacy of arts and sciences. Our Grade II listed Edwardian theatre, gallery, and public hall is full of hidden gems and historic charm.

Join our Open House tours to uncover everything past and present about this storied institution. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to explore history in your own backyard!

Book now: https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/4825?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=Organic

Announcing speakers for our panel conversations at the Arcadia Festival, 19th September:🌍 Engaging Young People & Commun...
10/09/2026

Announcing speakers for our panel conversations at the Arcadia Festival, 19th September:

🌍 Engaging Young People & Communities in Climate Change – a post-show conversation hosted by Force of Nature & The Resilience Project

Following Wayne Samuel’s Poempocalypse Croydon, a live choose-your-own-adventure poetry performance and game, Marla King, facilitator at The Resilience Project, will host a conversation with Youth Environmental Ambassador Issac Chandler and performers Wayne Samuel and Rachel Lincoln on engaging young people and local communities in climate action.

Marla King is a facilitator of the Resilience Circle programme, working at the intersection of arts & climate justice. She works for Force of Nature and the Resilience Project, transforming mindsets for climate action by helping young people feel empowered and develop the skills to make a difference.

🍃 Making environmentally responsible theatre – a post-show conversation hosted by Pigfoot Theatre

Following WomanEwer’s female-led dance performance Vera, Hetty Hodgson from Pigfoot Theatre will host a conversation with Stanley Arts Artistic Director & CEO Louise Bartlett-Pestell alongside performers Katy Dye and WomanEwer to explore the role arts organisations and theatre-makers play in environmental sustainability.

Hetty is a Theatre Director and the Artistic Director of multi-award winning Pigfoot Theatre - a leading environmental theatre company. They make innovative, collaborative theatre about the climate & ecological crisis, with the least carbon impact possible.

Book your tickets via Link in Bio

🎉 Exciting news! This week marks the return of Mini Movers & Their Grown-up Groovers for the autumn term! 🍂💃Join us for ...
08/09/2026

🎉 Exciting news! This week marks the return of Mini Movers & Their Grown-up Groovers for the autumn term! 🍂💃

Join us for family dance workshops that offer a fun and creative opportunity for children and their grown-ups to move and groove together! 🤗✨

This unique workshop explores togetherness through movement, using contact, props, and drawing—perfect for bonding with your little ones!

🕒 When: Sundays, starting 13th September
⏰ Time: 11:00 am - 11:45 am
📍 Location: Assembly Hall
🎟️ Tickets: £6 for 1 child & 1 adult
👶 Ages: Suitable for children 12 months – 4 years

08/09/2026

Meet the fourth artist announced for Arcadia Festival!

We’re thrilled to welcome Rachel Lincoln to Stanley Arts on 19 September. At 1pm, step into the magical world of Meadow – a joyful family storytelling adventure inspired by Heavers Meadow, bursting with live music, original songs, playful puppets, clowning and audience interaction.

Children 3+ and grown-ups are invited to explore a world teeming with plants, insects, birds and curious creatures, celebrating the hidden magic and biodiversity of our local surroundings.

Arcadia Festival is a day-long festival of performances, creative interventions led by young people, and outdoor activities for the whole family. Together, we’ll explore what it means to live in relationship with a living natural world.

🎟️ Join us on 19 September at Stanley Arts: https://stanleyarts.org/climate-nature/arcadia-2026/arcadia-festival/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=Organic

07/09/2026

🏛️ Discover Stanley Arts’ history this Open House Festival!

Join our Learning & Engagement Manager Andrew as he delves into Michelangelo’s legacy at Stanley Arts, exploring the fascinating stories, people and artistic influences woven into the history of our Grade II listed building.

📅 Sunday 13 September
⏰ 10am–4.30pm
📍 Stanley Arts

You can join our Open House Guided Tours at 10am or 3pm, or come along to The Future of Stanley Arts: Capital Conversations at 12pm and have your say on the next chapter of our historic building.

🎟️ Book via the Open House Festival website.

🔎 WHO? WHAT? HOW?The killer is out there… and even the cast doesn’t know who it is. 👀CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation bri...
03/09/2026

🔎 WHO? WHAT? HOW?

The killer is out there… and even the cast doesn’t know who it is. 👀

CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation brings its fully improvised murder mystery to Stanley Arts after multiple five-star sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe.

But here’s the catch: you create the crime. Expect witty twists, absurd characters and a rip-roaring mystery made up entirely on the spot. 🔍

🏆 Leicester Comedy Festival 2023 – Best Improv/Musical
🏆 Colchester Fringe 2024 – The Comedy Award
⭐️ Multiple five-star reviews

📅 Thursday 2 October
⏰ 7:30pm–8:30pm
📍 Stanley Hall
🎟️ £19 | 12+
🚪 Doors 6:45pm

🎫 Book your place: https://stanleyarts.org/event/csi-crime-scene-improvisation/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=Organic

We're incredibly excited to announce our exciting line up for the upcoming Arcadia Festival at Stanley Arts 🍃Join us for...
03/09/2026

We're incredibly excited to announce our exciting line up for the upcoming Arcadia Festival at Stanley Arts 🍃

Join us for a day-long celebration filled with performances, creative interventions led by young people, and outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy. Together, we will explore what it means to live in relationship with a living natural world 🌍

📅 Date: 19 September
🕥 Time: 10:30 am - 5:30 pm
📍 Location: Throughout Stanley Arts
🎟️ Tickets: £20 for the full day, £12 for the morning (10:30 am – 2 pm), or £14 for the afternoon (12 pm – 5:30 pm)

Book your Wild Morning Ticket, Adventure Afternoon Ticket, or a full day Arcadia Bloom Ticket now: https://stanleyarts.org/climate-nature/arcadia-2026/arcadia-festival/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=Organic

We can't wait to welcome: Tourism Live Womanewer .vivo .art .cookhouse beyond space＋art＋design .kim.hyunhwa

Address

12 South Norwood Hill
London
SE256AB

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 12pm - 10pm
Sunday 12pm - 8pm

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