A Brief History

1913 saw the opening of a handsome new Electricity Works on Onslow Street to provide power for Guildford town centre. As the consumption of electricity rose over the ensuing years it became clear that a bigger station was needed and a replacement building opened on another site in May 1928. The Electricity Works was retained as a distribution centre and all the town centre mains radiated from this point.

After 1968 the building lay dormant, used only as a scenery store for the various amateur theatre groups based in the area. Twenty years later the building’s potential as a theatre was recognised and the Guildford Amateur Theatre Association (GATA). Representing the interests of the many amateur arts companies in the area, GATA began to lobby the Borough Council for a new base. GATA was successful, and 1997 saw the opening of ‘The Electric Theatre’.

Design

The design project was undertaken by the Borough Council architects. The 1913 Electricity Works building, houses the theatre space itself, with extensions housing the foyer, bar, restaurant, dressing rooms, Farley Room and toilet facilities. The Theatre has retractable seating for 210, a wooden sprung floor, an orchestra pit and first class technical equipment.

Community Theatre

The Theatre is funded and managed by Guildford Borough Council with six full-time staff and a number of part-time employees. The Friends of the Theatre provide vital support, both financially and through volunteer work which includes providing ushers for every performance. The Electric Theatre has fulfilled its ambition to give hundreds of local amateur performers the chance to perform in a professionally run, state of the art theatre. It is also in demand from professional touring companies and local businesses. It is home to a thriving youth theatre as well as prestigious Guildford Festivals i.e. the Guildford Book Festival and the International Music Festival which alternates years with the Guildford Spring Music Festival. The annual Film Festivals show a variety of classic, art house and world cinema.

10th Birthday Celebrations

Four days in January 2007 were set aside for a celebration of The Electric Theatre’s 10th anniversary. As well as the temporary Ice Rink on the Theatre Plaza there were four evenings of events, including Stringfever, Richard Durrant, the GATA celebration evening (featuring a host of variety performances from GATA groups) and the Friends of The Electric Theatre Quiz. The celebrations culminated in a birthday party on the Sunday night.