A theatre producer has vowed the show will go on despite being forced to vacate his premises days after his debut production reached the end of its sell-out run.

Twickenham Theatre opened next door to The London Road pub, in London Road, Twickenham, on September 10 with a production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street.

It closed on Sunday (12) having played to packed audiences every night, including selling out extra dates the minute tickets went on sale.

However, this week founder Tony Green was informed the lease for the pub had been sold by owners Star Pubs and that the incoming landlords ‘do not figure theatre as part of their plans.’

Mr Green, who has lived in Twickenham for 25 years, created the theatre after becoming frustrated at the lack of such a venue in the local area.

He said: “There was no performance space anywhere in Twickenham for visiting theatre companies or local groups to use - so I started one.

“I’ve not had any direct contact with the new landlords, it was the old landlords P&R Pubs Ltd who told me the theatre had to move out.

“The news is a bombshell, but as a producer you are always in an area of risk where you win some and you lose some.

“This is disappointing, but you have to pick yourself up and carry on and I have found the support we’ve had so far very heartening indeed.

“I had other options before choosing The London Road as a venue, and I’m currently exploring these and others before deciding where to move to next.

“The main thing is we’ve put Twickenham Theatre on the map.”

The production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Sweeney Todd, starred David Bedella (star of Jerry Springer - The Opera) and Sarah Ingram.

It had attracted visitors from right across West London and beyond, with one fan in particular writing on Facebook how he and his wife made a 450 mile round trip specially to see the show.

Getwestlondon contacted Star Pubs, which is the UK leasing arm of Dutch brewer Heineken, for a comment and it has provided one on behalf of Murray Laird, the new landlord who also manages The Waldegrave Arms, in Teddington.

Mr Laird said: "The Twickenham Theatre was asked to leave The London Road as it didn’t have a legally binding contract and didn’t fit into our future plans for the pub.

"Until December we shall be running a pop up bar and smokehouse at The London Road.

"In Early January we’ll be closing the pub for a refurbishment with the intention of making it more food orientated when we re-open.”