Brick Lane Music Hall has a proud history of attracting audiences from far and wide, keeping alive the traditions of British Music Hall and Variety in our magnificent theatre. Since its creation in 1992, Brick Lane Music Hall has always been focussed on serving the local community. The Brick Lane Music Hall Charity was created to take outreach shows to the elderly and those unable to come to our theatre, and the theatre lends its ongoing support to local youth initiatives, working with local charities, Ambition, Aspire, Achieve and the Newham All Star Skills Academy, helping raise invaluable funds. We are proud of our work with local schools, and in 2024 we began a new initiative, our Musical Theatre Summer School, which has been providing an unrivalled experience for local children.

The Brick Lane Music Hall Summer School

The Newham All Stars Skills Academy, National All Star Event

So it is with great delight that we now have the honour of announcing a true milestone in the development of our work going forward – with the appointment of six distinguished Patrons: Su Pollard, Lorraine Chase, Anita Harris, Joy Laguda MBE, John Barber DL, MRICS and Rev. Canon Ann Easter.

We can’t thank these outstanding individuals enough for agreeing to lend their invaluable talent and expertise to support us moving forward with an eye to continuing our success into the future.

Comic icon, Su Pollard is well known for her appearances in television sitcoms such as Hi-de-Hi and You Rang, M’Lord? Su is also a singer and a stage performer, taking her one man show around the country and regularly appearing in panto’. Su is current President of the British Music Hall Society.

Left to right, at Brick Lane Music Hall, Andrew Robley with Lorraine Chase, Su Pollard and Vincent Hayes MBE

Lorraine Chase is an actress and former model. She came to fame initially for her exotic looks in a series of Campari adverts, going on to make numerous celebrity television appearances, as well as roles in various television series, notably playing Steph in Emmerdale. Lorraine is Patron of The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.

Anita Harris on stage at Brick Lane Music Hall

Anita Harris is an actress and singer, known for her roles in films like the Carry On series and her 1960’s hit “Just Loving You”, Anita appeared in two Carry On films, going on to become a familiar face on our televisions for her many roles in popular television variety shows. Anita made regular appearances on The Good Old Days, and today continues to perform in variety, music hall and pantomime, as well as acting roles on stage and television.

A nurse by profession, Joy Laguda MBE has lived in Newham for over 30 years, and served for more than 16 years as a school governor. She has a close involvement with community organisations across the Borough and is an active champion for local issues. Joy is currently Chair of Council and Civic Lead at the London Borough of Newham.

Mr John Barber DL, MRICS is the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Newham and Chief Executive of the LM Kendon Settlement, a Newham-based charity created in 1977 for the benefit of the elderly resident in the Borough. In 2022 John was awarded the Freedom of the Borough in recognition of his long years of distinguished service.

Born in Upton Park, Rev. Canon Ann Easter plays a prominent role in the local community. As well as serving as Chaplain to Her Majesty the Late Queen, Ann served for many years as Chief Executive of local charity, Renewal. Canon Ann Easter currently serves as a councillor for Canning Town North and is Commissioner for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue for the London Borough of Newham.