American theatre producers Ted and Norman Tulchin have been confirmed as the new owners of the Playhouse Theatre. They already have a reputation for being interested in the best of new British writing, and now they will be able to showcase and promote it in London as well as New York. Their general manager is Kevin Wallace, who has worked with the Tulchins before, on productions of Eden and Gagarin Way.

Not the most regularly used theatre in the West End, the Playhouse may be off the main artery roads like the Strand but is very close to a major tube station (Embankment), the wonderful new Hungerford Bridge footpath across the Thames to the South Bank, and Charing Cross mainline station.

As a theatre building, it is very attractive as well as being well-placed, so with the right shows, the Playhouse could undergo a long-overdue renaissance. It's been over 70 years since its 1920s heyday under the management of Gladys Cooper, one of Britain's most beautiful and talented actresses who later in her career moved to Hollywood where her most memorable role was probably as Bette Davis' mother in the classic "Now Voyager."

The Playhouse is currently staging The Big Friendly Giant, adapted from Roald Dahl's story by director David Wood.

—By Paul Webb Theatrenow