A NEW studio theatre has been opened in Titchfield and is now ready for action.

The facility, which belongs to Titchfield Festival Theatre, is part of extensive renovation work that the community-driven company is currently undertaking.

The works come as the theatre plans to show more plays, host more community events and to be entirely self-sufficient.

The new venue 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, pictured, artistic director for Titchfield Festival Theatre said: “We have got a packed schedule of performances this year, and the appetite for quality amateur theatre like ours keeps growing.

“We have 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.

The 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 Two, the play explores many emotions and cultural norms of the period.

Rhinoceros is showing at the Titchfield Festival Theatre studio from May 1 to May 7.

Two open-mic nights have also been planned for April 8 and April 29.