COMMUNITY-driven Titchfield Festival Theatre has declared its brand new studio theatre ready for action!

The new studio is part of extensive renovation work that the theatre is currently undertaking, proudly considering itself ‘the local theatre with big plans’.

Upgrades to the theatre venue are extensive, with the theatre planning to show more plays, host more community events and to be entirely self-sufficient. The theatre already has a biomass boiler installed, and has prepared plans to install solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system with the aim of becoming the only fully ‘green’ theatre in Europe.

Kevin Fraser, Artistic Director for Titchfield Festival Theatre said, “We’ve got a packed schedule of performances this year, and the appetite for quality amateur theatre like ours keeps growing.

“We’ve created the studio to offer an intimate space for more emotional plays, so the audience is completely immersed and becomes part of the story themselves. All this, as well as holding new ‘Open Mic Nights’ for aspiring new talent with a cash prize for the best act on the night.”

The new studio is built on a mezzanine which allows space to incorporate bar areas on each floor, a cafe seating area, and enough room to house a traditional cinema organ, no less.

The intimate atmosphere lends itself to the upcoming performance of Rhinoceros, written by Eugene Lonesco in 1959. From the Theatre of the Absurd, the play follows how the people of a small French town turn into rhinoceroses and focuses on the central character, Berenger, who avoids the same fate. With cultural significance and links to the upsurge in political beliefs in the run up to World War II, the play explores many emotions and cultural norms of the period.

Rhinoceros is showing at the Titchfield Festival Theatre studio May 1-7 2017. Two Open Mic Nights are planned for April 8 and 29. For more information on the main theatre performances and to book tickets, visit www.titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com or call the box office on 01392 556 156.