A new arts venue situated on the site of Paul Raymond’s original Boulevard Theatre in Walker’s Court Soho, is set to open in late 2019.

The brand new Boulevard Theatre was today announced by Fawn James, the great granddaughter of Paul Raymond, who has overseen the multi-million pound redevelopment of Walker’s Court.

The Boulevard Theatre shares it’s location with a theatre of the same name that ran as a section of the original Raymondrevue Bar, which hosted plays and comedy gigs including performances by Eddie Izzard and French and Saunders. The Raymondrevue Bar closed in 2004.

Rachel Edwards will oversee the artistic programming for the new venue. Edwards was a founder of the Tooting Arts Club and was responsible for their site-specific production of SWEENEY TODD, which transferred to the West End and then to New York.

The Boulevard Theatre will have a capacity of 165 and will produce an ‘eclectic’ mix of programming including four annual in-house productions, late night music, comedy, spoken work, cabaret and films.

The theatre, designed by theatre consultants Charcoal Blue and architects Soda Studio, will feature a full revolving balcony and auditorium to make the venue an adaptable performance space. The design also includes a two-floor glass bridge linking the theatre to a restauraunt and bar area.

Fawn James said: ‘The concept started about 10 years ago now when I was having a conversation with my dad about whether we had any of my grandfather’s original theatres in our portfolio and he mentioned about the Boulevard. I then really pushed for us to include it in our redevelopment because at that point we were redeveloping the court anyway and I just thought it would be a fabulous way of celebrating my heritage and also the wonders that Soho has to offer’.

The Boulevard Theatre will open in late 2019.