Our Story
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In 1973 Guildford Borough Council (urged on by Bill Bellerby, then Chairman of the Arts and Recreation Committee) made the former Territorial Army garage in Leapale Lane available for use as an amateur theatre. Twelve months of hard work turned it into a real theatre that seated 150 people, with lighting controls that were so sophisticated they were featured in BBC 2's Tomorrow's World. It was named the Annexe Theatre, and was heavily used by many amateur groups, some of whom only sprang into being because the facilities were there. However, joy was short lived. The Annexe was in the way of a new road and was demolished less than three years after it had been opened. The Council rallied round and offered the old Salvation Army building, which the amateur groups once more turned into a theatre.
The new theatre was named The Bellerby in recognition of the unfailing support of Bill Bellerby. It opened in 1978 with a production of John Mortimer's A Voyage Around My Father by the Herald Players. But in 1983 life got difficult again when the lease of The Bellerby was acquired by the Guildford School of Acting, and its availability to amateur companies was limited to the school holidays. Competition for performance slots was fierce and many groups sought performance space outside the town.
Something had to be done!
Thus, Guildford Amateur Theatre Association (GATA) was born - its sole purpose was to act as a lobbying group to seek a permanent home for the town's ever increasing number of amateur performing and arts groups. GATA enlisted the help of local personalities to raise funds. Comedian and writer Ben Elton, actress Emma Thompson, local actor Jack Mackenzie, Guildford based Michael Buerk and Surrey arts supporters Lady Heald and Sir John Ford were patrons of the appeal. Lobbying, spurred on by the late Len Farley, was successful and Guildford Borough Council converted the town's old electricity works into a community theatre for use by amateur performing groups. The Electric Theatre was officially opened on Saturday 18 January 1997 with a Gala performance of Tom Stoppard's On the Razzle presented by the Herald Players.
Guildford Borough Council owned and managed the theatre from 1997 until 2015 when a decision was taken to lease it. Once more, GATA returned to the frontline as a lobbying group, and with other local groups, fought hard to ensure that the theatre retained its community function. The campaign was successful. Read more about the campaign and our beloved theatre here .
GATA is a registered charity and is an umbrella organisation for its members performing at the Electric Theatre. By the end of 2007 GATA had spent £81,900 on equipment for the Electric Theatre and now works to promote public education in the dramatic arts in and around Guildford.
The new theatre was named The Bellerby in recognition of the unfailing support of Bill Bellerby. It opened in 1978 with a production of John Mortimer's A Voyage Around My Father by the Herald Players. But in 1983 life got difficult again when the lease of The Bellerby was acquired by the Guildford School of Acting, and its availability to amateur companies was limited to the school holidays. Competition for performance slots was fierce and many groups sought performance space outside the town.
Something had to be done!
Thus, Guildford Amateur Theatre Association (GATA) was born - its sole purpose was to act as a lobbying group to seek a permanent home for the town's ever increasing number of amateur performing and arts groups. GATA enlisted the help of local personalities to raise funds. Comedian and writer Ben Elton, actress Emma Thompson, local actor Jack Mackenzie, Guildford based Michael Buerk and Surrey arts supporters Lady Heald and Sir John Ford were patrons of the appeal. Lobbying, spurred on by the late Len Farley, was successful and Guildford Borough Council converted the town's old electricity works into a community theatre for use by amateur performing groups. The Electric Theatre was officially opened on Saturday 18 January 1997 with a Gala performance of Tom Stoppard's On the Razzle presented by the Herald Players.
Guildford Borough Council owned and managed the theatre from 1997 until 2015 when a decision was taken to lease it. Once more, GATA returned to the frontline as a lobbying group, and with other local groups, fought hard to ensure that the theatre retained its community function. The campaign was successful. Read more about the campaign and our beloved theatre here .
GATA is a registered charity and is an umbrella organisation for its members performing at the Electric Theatre. By the end of 2007 GATA had spent £81,900 on equipment for the Electric Theatre and now works to promote public education in the dramatic arts in and around Guildford.
