Polka Theatre Announces Renaming Of Its Main Theatre As The Y C Chan Theatre, Following Technical Refurbishment

Polka Theatre is proud to announce that its Main Theatre auditorium will be renamed the Y C Chan Theatre, in recognition of a major donation from The Chan Yin Chuen Memorial Charitable Foundation. The renaming follows an intensive programme of refurbishment that has transformed the technical capacities of the theatre’s biggest performance space and ensured its future for generations of children and families. The naming will run for a period of ten years, marking a milestone moment in Polka’s history. 

The Chan Yin Chuen Memorial Charitable Foundation has been a key supporter of Polka since 2019, contributing to both capital and revenue projects. Their most recent gift comes at a crucial time, when costs of creating ambitious productions and maintaining and running Polka’s venue — which includes free-to-use indoor and outdoor children’s play areas that are open six days a week, 50 weeks a year — continue to rise. 

This generous support will go directly towards Polka’s core charitable work: creating inspiring first experiences of theatre for children, supporting schools and artists, and ensuring that all children, regardless of background, can enjoy access to the arts. 

The Chan Yin Chuen Memorial Charitable Foundation was established in memory of Mr Y C Chan, a much-loved father, businessman, and advocate for education. Passionate about learning, he believed that high-quality education should be accessible to all children, particularly those facing challenging circumstances. 

Following his untimely passing in 1980 at the age of 47, his family established the Foundation to continue his commitment to education and opportunity. With members of Mr Chan’s family having lived in Wimbledon for many years, Polka Theatre holds a special place in their hearts. 

His daughter, Sandra Dennis, on behalf of The Chan Yin Chuen Memorial Charitable Foundation, said, “My father would be so proud to know that The Y C Chan Memorial Charitable Foundation is helping Polka Theatre fulfil its potential as one of the UK’s leading children’s theatres. For our own four children, who grew up in Wimbledon, Polka was a familiar and much-loved part of their childhood. They enjoyed many productions there over the years, and the theatre holds a special place in our family’s memories. Polka Theatre has always been a place where children can experience joy and awaken their imagination. I wish the theatre every success as it continues to inspire young audiences for years to come.” 

Lynette Shanbury, Executive Director/Joint CEO, said, “This momentous support by The Chan Yin Chuen Memorial Charitable Foundation is transformative in our ability to sustain Polka’s core work, bringing extraordinary theatre to children and families. As a registered charity, Polka can only continue thanks to the ongoing support of hundreds of supporters and funders. We want to thank the Foundation for their incredible belief in Polka’s ability to change children’s lives through theatre.”  

This landmark gift sits alongside the generosity of many other donors, trusts, and foundations, whose collective ongoing support sustains Polka’s mission and impact every year. 

The renaming of the Main Theatre space follows a major technical refurbishment of Polka’s 300 seat auditorium, supported by the Foundation and a group of generous donors. The work has future-proofed the space with new lighting, sound and safety systems, including 20,000 metres of new cabling, which will make the operations more reliable and eco-friendly. This will ensure the theatre is equipped to meet the ambitious needs of artists and capture the imagination of young audiences for years to come.