Croydon

Croydon is a major suburban town and commercial centre situated 9.5 miles (15.3 km) south of Charing Cross and the principal town in the London Borough of Croydon.

The Arts

Croydon is often disparaged for its lack of culture and its archetypal suburban atmosphere. The town has born the brunt of many jokes aimed at its enthusiastic adoption of urban modernism. It has often been characterised as dull and inhuman. International model Kate Moss was born and raised in Croydon. BBCNews, from 9/21/05, remarks: "Articles about her always mentioned her Croydon roots, although the suspicion in hindsight is that this was probably to sneer, as if her origins made her beauty all the more extraordinary." A calendar entitled Roundabouts of Croydon, with a picture of a different Croydon roundabout each month, has enjoyed some success. More recently the name was often the subject of parody by comedy duo Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.

Related Topics:
Parody - Mel Giedroyc - Sue Perkins

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Nevertheless, there are several high-quality arts venues. Foremost amongst these is the Fairfield Halls, opened in 1962 with a large concert hall frequently used for BBC recordings, the Ashcroft Theatre and the Arnhem Gallery. The Halls are the home of the London Mozart Players, whose Principal Guest Conductor is flautist Sir James Galway. Many famous faces have appeared at the Fairfield Halls, from the Beatles through Bucks Fizz to Coolio.

Related Topics:
Fairfield Halls - 1962 - London Mozart Players - James Galway - The Beatles - Bucks Fizz - Coolio

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The Warehouse Theatre is a studio theatre known for its work on new playwriting, as well as comedy and youth theatre. Croydon Clocktower, built by the London Borough of Croydon in the mid-1990s, houses a state-of-the-art library, the David Lean cinema, a performance venue in the old reference library and the town museum.

Related Topics:
Warehouse Theatre - Croydon Clocktower - London Borough of Croydon - 1990s - David Lean

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Naturally there are several local and small venues for live music, comedy and community events dotted around Croydon and its neighbourhoods.

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