The Playground Theatre - new fringe venue in west London announced

Celia Imrie is patron of converted bus depot

A new fringe venue has announced it is opening in the Ladbroke Grove area of West London on Latimer Road this October. Named The Playground Theatre this converted bus depot will be run by Anthony Biggs and Peter Tate as co-artistic directors.

The venue has been designed by Jonathan Mizzi Studio with a restoration and conversion budget of £270,000. It will have a seating capacity of 150 to 200 and use a flexible stage with full facilities as well as a front of house area and café bar serving throughout the day.

The Playground's artistic policy "will have excellence at it's heart" and "will be a place for play, experimentation, risk and above all fun". The opening season will be announced later this Spring.

Actor and producer Peter Tate said of the news: "To create this theatre physically is one thing, but what happens beyond the 18th century theatre entrance doors is another. That is the challenge- to create work of a high quality that engages the audience. I am very excited about being joined by Anthony Biggs, as co-artistic director, as I knew, from our first meeting, that we were speaking the same language and that we would work very well together."

Anthony Biggs, former Artistic Director of the Jermyn Street Theatre said: "The Playground is such a creative space and I'm thrilled to be joining it on the next stage on its journey. It has the potential to be the Almeida of West London - a place where our artists are encouraged to take risks, where our audiences are both challenged and entertained".

Patrons of the venue include actors Celia Imrie and Cherie Lunghi and the ballerina Lyn Seymour.