Guildford Amateur Theatre Association

Supporting amateur theatre in Guildford

Save the Electric Theatre →

Our Story

Guildford Amateur Theatre Association was formed in the early 1980s to fight for a permanent home for amateur theatre in Guildford. This is how that fight played out — and where it stands today.

The early years: Annexe and Bellerby

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 so sophisticated they were featured on 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. Joy was short-lived. The Annexe was in the way of a new road and was demolished less than three years after it had 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 — 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 — Guildford Borough Council converted the town’s old electricity works into a community theatre for use by amateur performing groups.

The Electric Theatre opens

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. Today the Electric Theatre’s future is again under threat — read about our current Save the Electric Theatre campaign and sign the petition.

Bill Bellerby MBE — ‘Mr Guildford’

The driving force behind the Annexe and The Bellerby theatres, and a patron of the Electric Theatre appeal. Bill Bellerby’s tireless work for amateur theatre in Guildford earned him the affectionate title ‘Mr Guildford’.

GATA today

GATA is a registered charity and an umbrella organisation for its member groups performing at the Electric Theatre and across the Guildford area. By the end of 2007 GATA had spent £81,900 on equipment for the Electric Theatre, and the Association continues to work to promote public education in the dramatic arts in and around Guildford. Find out more about our member groups, get involved, or contact us.

Events Coming Up

What’s on across our member groups in the coming months. Submit your own group’s show via the event form.