About

Studio Theatre is now over seventy years old and was situated in various premises in Salisbury before coming to roost in our purpose-built 92-seater theatre in Ashley Road. We have charitable status (Charity No. 253957).

‘Stage adaptations go wrong when someone thinks they know better than the author – it’s as simple as that. Otherwise, it generally works.
Last year, locally a small company put on Going Postal. They were amateurs, but bloody good and far more professional than the professionals. They got it exactly right, including the music. So I think I’ll stick to amdram – I can beat them up if they get it wrong. But I don’t need to because generally they get it right.’

From ‘A Slip of the Keyboard’,
Sir Terry Pratchett

We are a member of the prestigious Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain of which Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Kenneth Branagh were recent Presidents, and which exacts a high standard of performance from its members as well as requiring them to own their own premises.

Christopher Biggins, a native of Salisbury and star of stage, screen and pantomime, is our President – one of a number of prestigious names associated with Studio Theatre, including William Golding who, in 1954, directed The Alcestis of Euripides, and the actor, Brian Protheroe, who trod our boards before becoming a professional actor. Two of the late Sir Terry Pratchett’s novels were staged as plays at Studio – one of which as a new adaptation – and he attended both on the first night of each.

We also have two Patrons; Barney Norris, a former member, and now acclaimed playwright and author who won the Critics’ Circle Award for most promising playwright. He is also Associate Artist at Oxford Playhouse and the Watermill Theatre and teaches creative writing at the University of Oxford, among other things. The former producer of Panorama and Newsnight, Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury is also Patron of Studio Theatre.

In 2011 Studio won the Open Stages Competition run by The Royal Shakespeare Company and The All-England Theatre Festival with our production of Hamlet which was performed at Stratford-upon-Avon and which subsequently won four awards from the Southern Daily Echo. Also, our productions of RolePlay, The Turn of the Screw, Measure for Measure and The Crucible have also won awards from The Echo in various categories. In 2013 we received a Creative Arts Award from Wiltshire Life magazine. Early in 2016 more awards were forthcoming at two One Act Play Festivals in Wiltshire and in Dorset when an excerpt from Top Girls by Caryl Churchill was performed. In the same year, our productions of Toad of Toad Hall, The Ladykillers and Female Transport each won a Curtain Call award from The Echo in the Lighting and Sound, and Set and Props categories.

Since 2017, we have entered plays in two local One-Act Festivals (Codford and Totton), and received awards on every occasion – for Best Overall Production, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Runner-Up and Best Supporting Performer, some of them a few times over, as well as many Honourable Mentions.

Studio Theatre may be hired (availability permitting) – and has been host to Scouts’ productions, Stroke Club meetings, the Young People’s Festival of Drama and more besides.

We have donated over £1,000 each to both the local hospital’s cancer ward and to The Alzheimer’s Society as a result of special gala performances.

Our Youth Theatre regularly produces multi-talented youngsters who plan on making drama their career.

A grand new extension was planned as space was at a premium for all the activities taking place and, apart from some fitting out still to be completed, it is up and running.   A new rehearsal room, more wardrobe space, new dressing rooms for the youth theatre, and more room for a workshop and storage for flats and props are the result of extreme effort of fund-raising for grants and donations, and also by a team of members who plan events, stalls, coffee mornings and various other fund-raising occasions.

We welcome new members who are interested in acting, directing or just supporting , and would also be delighted to welcome anyone keen on constructing sets, helping run the bar and front-of-house, assisting with costumes or working backstage. Please go to the Membership Page if you’re interested.

J.P.