• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Tickets

French’s Theatre Bookshop Closing After 187 Years

February 16, 2017 by Tom Bailey Leave a Comment

French's Theatre Bookshop

French’s Theatre Bookshop

Book seller and theatrical rights agent Samuel French has announced the closure of  French’s Theatre Bookshop after 187 years. The business will continue to sell books online which it says already make up 4 out of every 5 sales. The closure has been blamed on “unsustainable rental increase”.

Managing director Douglas Schatz told The Stage newspaper that the rent on the premises, which also house the companies offices, has increased 200-300% over the last five years.

Samuel French opened their first bookshop in London in 1830. It moved to its current premises on Warren Street in 1983. The company now plan to move their offices to new premises near Euston, where the publishing and licensing arms of the company will be based.

The real loss for the Theatre community isn’t going to be the bricks and mortar though, but the collective knowledge of the expert staff, who could pick you out an audition monologue with one man from Yorkshire and a 39 year old woman with a lisp in about 5 seconds flat.

The company is obviously hoping it will be able to take that expertise online, with Schatz commenting: “We have a great team here who know theatre and books inside out, so we will be at the end of the phone and on live chat. We won’t be a faceless online business. We want to make it very personal and part of the community”.

However, with the best will in the world, when no other company anywhere has managed to create an online and telephone based experience to match face to face interaction with a real person, I am afraid our hopes are not high. Especially as Schatz has had to admit that some job losses are almost certain following the closure with the inevitable loss of expertise that that will entail.

The doors will finally be closing on French’s bookshop this April. With large price reductions in the run up to the closure, it’s worth getting down there soon if you want to pick yourself up a little piece of London theatre history.

If you’re not sold on buying your scripts online, and want to carry on supporting independent theatre bookshops, you can still peruse the shelves at: Calder Bookshop, Royal Court Bookshop and The National Theatre Bookshop. If you have any other suggestions for great theatrical bookshops please do share them below.

Author: Tom BaileyTom is a theatre maker and writer based in London, England. He covers news and interviews for Theatre Bubble.
T: Twitter F: Facebook

Filed Under: Featured, News Tagged With: bookshop, closure, literature, plays, Samuel French, theatre bookshop

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Davinia Hamilton on Blanket Ban

Following its hit run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, theatre makers and activists Davinia Hamilton and Marta Vella bring their rallying [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Richard Vergette on Leaving Vietnam

We spoke to Richard Vergette, writer and performer of Leaving Vietnam. Richard plays a war veteran who feels ignored and [Read More]

Review / The Journey To Venice at the Finborough Theatre

Bjorg Vik’s play The Journey To Venice is a delightful production, entertaining yet full of pathos. A play with a [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Tzarini Meyler talks KITES at VAULT Festival

We spoke to Artistic Director of LipZinc Theatre, writer and performer Tzarini Meyler about her upcoming show at VAULT Festival [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Naomi Westerman talks BATMAN (aka Naomi’s Death Show)

We spoke to writer and performer Naomi Westerman from Little But Fierce about her upcoming show at VAULT Festival Can [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Tim Edge talks Under the Black Rock
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Katy Owen: How to Apply to Drama Schools*
  • Ben Lloyd-Hughes in Kiss Me
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Angharad Jones on The Swearing Jar 
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Dream Ritual at The Coronet
  • Hadestown at The National Theatre
  • Interview with Anna Marsland, director of Tomorrow Creeps
  • Tom Bailey
    Editor

  • February 16th, 2017
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!