‘Grenfell had fires, Kensal had floods’
To commemorate Grenfell’s seventh anniversary and support the Compensate Kensal campaign, SPID Theatre is making the case for housing justice at Riverside Studios throughout June. The performances and films are produced in collaboration with local residents, young people and Estate Endz, including those who lost friends and homes to the council’s negligence. They raise funds for Grenfell United and support the Compensate Kensal campaign in the spirit of solidarity.
Critical acclaim
‘A love letter to estates,’ ★★★★The Guardian
‘Next stop must be the Commons,’ ★★★★The Morning Star
'The moral is clear – we can win this!’★★★★ The Big Issue
‘Demonstrates vibrantly how art can be change, ‘ ★★★★ Everything Theatre
‘A passionate defence of social housing,’ ★★★★ The Stage
History
‘Floods’ have plagued Kensal House long before 2005, when the Residents Association invited SPID to move in. A freedom of information report shows 316 leaks and floods in the past 6 years have been logged but not addressed. ‘Fire’ in 2017 resulted from chronic negligence by the landlord Kensal shares with Grenfell, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC). SPID’s critically acclaimed Burning Tower was published by Bloomsbury and tours estates UK wide - in tarot the tower card symbolises turmoil and change. ‘Sunshine flats’ is how residents described Kensal House when the Grade II* listed building was originally designed in 1937. SPID united with Kensal House residents in class action against Grenfell's landlord for safety failures on their own historic estate - and are protesting the nearby Project Flourish development to overshadow their home.
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