Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
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The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is a theatre located in Guildford, Surrey, England. Named after the actress Yvonne Arnaud, it presents a series of locally produced and national touring productions, including opera, ballet and pantomime. The theatre has two performance venues, a main theatre and the smaller Mill Studio.[1]
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[edit] History
Replacing a former repertory theatre,[1] the present complex was opened in 1965 in a riverside site, incorporating a restaurant and bar available to non-theatregoers. The foundation stone was laid by Vanessa Redgrave who commemorated the occasion by casting her hands in concrete.
The company opted to dispense with traditional repertory theatre in favour of a more flexible model in which actors are cast as appropriate to different productions. Many stars have performed at the theatre over the years. Stephen Barry was a young assistant director in the 1960s. The first artistic director, Laurier Lister, was succeeded in 1975 by Val May.[1]
[edit] Present
Presently under the directorship of James Barber, the theatre presents a mixed year-round production schedule that includes an annual pantomime. Its scenery workshop builds for Glyndebourne, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Chichester Festival Theatre.[citation needed] A youth department offers regular productions in the Mill Studio and an annual summer musical on the main stage.[2] The wider theatre space is used for arts and functional purposes including art exhibitions and the annual film season feature, and includes a restaurant and bar.
In January 2012, theatre staff discriminated against and ejected long term patrons and their disabled son, after a customer complaint from another theatre goer. As a result, management are presently scheduled to review access procedures, information provided to audience members and provide additional staff training.[3]
[edit] The Mill Studio
Originally the eighteenth-century Town Mill building housed the theatre's workshops. The studio opened in 1993 as a base for the Youth Theatre's activities.[1] In 1997, a National Lottery grant was used to upgrade the facilities, enabling expansion in audience capacity and the range of productions presented.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Yvonne Arnaud Website- A Brief History". http://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/about.asp. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
- ^ "Yvonne Arnaud Website- Youth Activities". http://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/taking_part.asp. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
- ^ "Disabled man told to leave Guildford panto". BBC News. 6 January 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-16439721. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 51°14′01″N 0°34′30″W / 51.233571°N 0.574964°W
