Guildford's beloved Electric Theatre, which has hosted a diverse range of amateur and professional performances for almost two decades, faces being sold off by the Borough Council. A petition is underway
Born in 1997 from the disused 1913 Guildford Electricity Works and a GATA (Guildford Amateur Theatre Association) campaign for an amateur performance space in the city, the Electric Theatre has since proven a lively and incredibly varied resource for local performers and audiences alike.
Amateur plays, live gigs, professional productions, expert and celebrity talks, cabaret shows, ballet nights, quiz evenings, music cafes, film screenings and more – the Electric Theatre hosts a near-constant stream of events, with over 350 last year. It's featured the talents of Noel Fielding and Jane Fonda in smaller productions, and supports young performers through groups from Man in the Moon Youth Theatre to Guildford School of Acting. It plays host to multiple festivals each year, from the Guildford Book Festival to the International Music Festival, and its own Electric Film Festival and Electric Family Festival.
Unfortunately, the Guildford Borough Council now proposes selling off the Electric Theatre, citing the high price its location would fetch. The council has already ordered the Surrey Archaeological Society to leave the Guildford Museum after 160 years of residence, in order to sell off the museum – with no word on whether a replacement space will be provided.
The Electric Theatre – which received more than £80,000 in fundraising from GATA to finance its original conversion into a public theatre space – is already being advertised for private rent.
A petition to keep the Electric Theatre open as a space for the people of Guildford has acquired 5000 signatures. Add your name to support the arts in Guildford!
