Their Play Your Part campaign to transform the theatre and develop this iconic and much-loved building as a cultural community hub with theatre at its core is well underway.

The theatre is building new multi-purpose spaces for wider community and artistic benefit; ensuring it can meet the needs of the communities of Surrey for the next 50 years. Accessibility has already been improved with the addition of new accessible toilets, and there are other exciting changes coming this year.

The project will:

• Improve accessibility throughout the front of house areas including the provision of a lift to all floors.
• Create a multipurpose accessible community room for engagement activities, events, rehearsals and workshops.
• Remodel the theatre’s public spaces to make them fit-for-purpose to meet the growing demand for these areas.
• Improve its environmental sustainability by replacing outdated electrical and mechanical services with energy efficient alternative.

The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is a registered charity and the only producing venue in Surrey. A regional theatre with a national reach and a mission to produce and present vibrant, outstanding, entertaining drama for the communities of Surrey and the South East.

An artistic resource and a safe space for many communities to participate in the thrill and delight of live theatre and arts activities, it enables people of all ages to come together, whether they choose to see a play, take part in a workshop or event, or meet a friend for coffee.

In June 2023 the theatre was delighted to receive £3m from Surrey County Council’s Your Fund Surrey, and the team thanked the thousands of people who took the time to write in, make comments and like its application on the Your Fund Surrey website, contacted their Surrey County Council representatives and generally supported the theatre in showing how vital it is to the county, in so many ways.

With the generous support of Your Fund Surrey added to the 2.28m raised to date, the theatre still needs to generate a further £715,000 in order to complete the planned works. Please consider donating to help the theatre reach their target.

Work is due for completion in the summer, the theatre’s 60th anniversary year. To celebrate, the Yvonne Arnaud and Guildford Shakespeare Company have partnered for two ambitious and exciting productions running from 10 to 26 July: The Comedy of Errors and A Company of Rascals. Performed simultaneously on both the Main Stage and in promenade around the theatre, inside and out, this will be an unmissable theatrical event for the town.

The theatre will remain open this spring and summer whilst most of the work is done, and has devised a building programme that still brings you the best in drama, comedy, family shows and entertainment. The new Riverbank Kitchen at the rear of the ground floor has now come to life and is open Tuesdays to Saturdays for delicious homemade cakes, light bites and lunches.

You can find out more and donate at yvonne-arnaud.co.uk, or by speaking to a member of the Box Office team on 01483 44 00 00.