The voices of Battersea Arts Centre as it re-emerges from the ashes

Poignant: The Grand Hall and missing theatre cat Pluto (by Phillip Payne)

After a devastating fire tore through the beautiful Grade II* listed Battersea Arts Centre (BAC), on Friday 13, the community has rallied to support staff.

The Grand Hall, at the back of the building, renovated only a few years ago, is now a burnt-out carcass with smashed windows and no roof. 

The centre's distinctive tower collapsed in on itself, in front of crowds of horrified onlookers.

Fortunately the iconic glass dome, in the middle section of the arts centre, and the building's front section were saved by the tireless efforts of 80 firefighters.

Staff have lived up to the 'show must go on' mantra, starting with two sold-out performances held over the weekend.

The astonishing events were not going to hold back the tenacious team at BAC who have since launched their "phoenix" plan.

Performances of Fiction and Lorraine and Alan were held as planned on Saturday, with huge cheers from those who came to watch.

Almost £170,000 has been raised for BAC in the wake of a calamitous fire that ravaged the 120-year-old building.

Thousands of people donated nearly £70,000 via the National Funding Scheme page. On top of that the Battersea Power Station development pledged a further £100,000.

Pick up tomorrow's Wandsworth Guardian for our paper dedicated to the blaze.

From the building's history, to the evacuation last Friday, this is what those closest to BAC had to say

THE HISTORY 

Remembering the past: Phillip Payne box office manager talks history 

In the past 120 years the building has played host to many fascinating people and incredible stories with infamous speeches, politics as well as cutting edge performance.

Renowned for its radical politics, Battersea was a focal point in the early days of the trade union movement, Independent Labour Party and the campaign for Women’s Suffrage.

Phillip Payne, 38, the box office manager and resident historian, said the building was constructed in 1893 in reaction to the expanding local population after the railways came through in the 1860s.

He said: “It wasn’t formally a town hall until 1900. The Grand Hall has an awful lot of history.

“In its earliest years it was the scene of limelight cinema screenings in the earliest days of cinema.

Heritage: The historic organ takes pride of place in the Grand Hall 

“In 1926 it was one of the headquarters of the General Strike. It was used on two occasions in the 1920s as a venue for the Communist Party’s national convention.

“The suffragettes, including one of the Pankhurst sisters, held meetings in the Lower Hall in the years leading up to the World War I, between 1910 and 1914.

“That has a nice resonance as the Lower Hall turns into a polling station in elections.

“The great Bertrand Russell gave a lecture in the Grand Hall and the Jam gigged there in the 1970s.

“McFly also recorded a music video in the Grand Hall and Absolutely Fabulous recorded part of their most recent Christmas special in the Grand Hall.

“Over the years we have had countless weddings in the Grand Hall, thousands of tea dances – goodness knows how many people have fallen in love in that space over the years.

“I felt so proud despite everything that was happening there everyone was getting on with it and being professional.

“Battersea Arts Centre is a symbol of permanence and is really important on a psychological and emotional level.”

THE STAFF 

Organised: Staff made sure everyone got out quickly

Tanith Lindon, 32, BAC’s catering manager was working in the Scratch Bar when the fire broke out. 

She was the first out of the building when the fire alarm went off and turned around to see the flames above the Grand Hall. 

She said: "We watched hoping it wasn’t getting bigger. The Fire Brigade arrived very quickly. For ages I was really trying to hold back my sense that it was really bad. 

"A lot of people were really upset. My main thought was how awful, such a shame. The moment the tower fell off the roof was the most awful thing. 

"All my dreams [that night] were about the building and hugging staff members. I woke up and it was still true."

THE BOSS

Devastated: Mr Jubb is upset but inspired by the huge support 

Artistic director and CEO of BAC, David Jubb, told the Wandsworth Guardian: "The support we have had has been overwhelming. 

"It was extraordinary. Obviously it is such heartbreaking, devastating news in relation to the hall but it's so uplifting to have people's support it makes people feel optimistic.

"It's always been a building that's brought people together. I was working off site when I got the phone call and I jumped on a train.

"They were managing the situation wonderfully and the London Fire Brigade were out of this world.

"We have now got our own phoenix project team working out how we get the shows back on.

"You go very quickly from shock to how do we sort this out and make the situation better. Definitely got that Battersea-Wandsworth spirit."

THE FIRE BRIGADE 

Rescue operation: Firefighters had to battle to save the listed dome 

Darren Munro, London Fire Brigade borough commander for Wandsworth, said: "[The fire] was very dynamic, you could see it from miles away - I cannot praise them enough about how much they did to contain it.

"That was my thought all the way along - how do you contain that? 

"It’s on a hill and it was a windy day. There was always that possibility there was going to be a fire somewhere else.

"The first priority was making sure no one was in there and then, when you have a fire of that intensity, it is about stopping it spreading. They had to prevent the fire getting in to any other parts of the property. 

"The fire crews did a really fantastic job because that fire didn’t damage any more of the building than was on fire when they got there. They saved the glass dome and the marble statues beneath it."

THE POLITICIANS 

Phoenix plan: Mr Jubb with Jane Ellison and Sajid Javid on Monday 

Battersea MP Jane Ellison regularly visits the theatre to see shows and asked the Secretary of State for Culture, Sajid Javid, to come and visit, which he did on Monday morning. 

Ms Ellison said: “Huge credit to David Jubb and their team because he’s taking a really pragmatic and calm leadership role. 

“I think one of the reasons Battersea Arts Centre holds such a place in people’s minds is because it’s a Victorian building, very much being used in the present. It is a piece of living heritage.”

Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: “I was terribly sad to hear about the fire at the arts centre on Friday, but was deeply relieved that no one was hurt. 

“I have visited the centre to see the damage and met the very dedicated team of staff who have launched an impressive fundraising campaign and are doing everything to carry on as far as possible.    

“Department for Culture, Media and Sport and our colleagues at the Arts Council is working closely with the centre to see what support and assistance can be given at this difficult time.”