 Guildford's
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre opened its
doors in 1965 as a proud memorial
to the much loved French actress
who had made her home in Effingham
Common, and whose warmth, humour
and talent gave her an unrivalled
position on the English stage for
nearly fifty years.
The first Artistic Director was
Laurier Lister who delighted audiences
from his opening production with
Ingrid Bergman and Michael Redgrave
in A Month In The Country; the powerful
performance by Max Adrian of The
Cardinal of Spain; Sybil Thorndike's
penultimate role as the murderess
in The Viaduct; Wendy Hiller and
Gladys Cooper in Somerset Maugham's
The Sacred Flame; Alec Guinness's
riveting scientist in Time out of
Mind to A Midsummer Night's Dream
which featured the complete Mendelssohn
Score, especially recorded by a
sixty piece orchestra.
After ten years Val May took up
the reigns of Artistic Director
and built on this success, continuing
to balance classical and popular
theatre with Shakespeare, Shaw,
Ibsen and Chekhov rubbing shoulders
with Coward, Priestley, Ayckbourn
and Stoppard. Thirty-four premieres
were staged from mammoth musicals
to distinguished modern works by
Michael Frayn and Anthony Shaffer.
Closer relationships were developed
with West End managements. As a
result, twenty-seven productions
transferred during the decade, which
enabled the theatre to stand on
its own two feet and withstand the
withdrawal of the Arts Council subsidy
with the support of Guildford Borough
Council and the loyal Guildford
audience.
 Guildford's
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre today
Today Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud
Theatre, under the Directorship
of James Barber, is a busy producing
and receiving house creating shows
in Guildford and touring nationally
with many transferring to the West
End. On both the main stage and
in the Mill Studio an eclectic mix
of classical and contemporary work
is staged by new, lesser-known and
established writers. Ballet, opera
and children's events are also staged,
alongside music, comedy, contemporary
dance and more experimental theatre
in the Mill Studio. An annual pantomime,
art exhibition and film season feature
and the Youth and Education facility
offers an exciting mix of activities
for young people and adults all
year round. Extensive catering facilities
are available to suit all pockets,
providing a complete night out for
everyone - not just theatregoers.
The Mill
Studio
The Yvonne Arnaud opened the 80
seat Mill Studio in 1993 to provide
a venue for work that would not
otherwise be seen in Guildford.
It also forms the base for the Youth
Theatre's activities. The historic
Old Town Mill dates from the eighteenth
century and it had previously been
used as the theatre's scenery workshop.
In 1997 its success was rewarded
with a Lottery grant to upgrade
the facilities, and since then it
has continued to expand its audience
and the range of productions presented.
It is now a lively venue in its
own right providing a great space
for small-scale work by professional
companies.
Since 1991 the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
has created 106 productions, which
have toured to 78 different cities
in the United Kingdom providing
609 weeks of product for other regional
theatres. Of the 106 productions,
47 then transferred to London, 28
of which were new plays. Its scenery
workshops, in addition to creating
sets for the Yvonne Arnaud's stage,
have built for Glyndebourne, the
Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester
Festival Theatre and most of the
country's leading commercial companies.
MAILING
ADDRESS & LOCATION:
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Millbrook
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 3UX
BOX OFFICE:
Tel: 01483 44 00 00
Fax: 01483 440792
boxoffice@yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
GENERAL
ENQUIRIES:
Tel: 01483 44 00 77
Fax: 01483 564071
yat@yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
THE RIVERVIEW
RESTAURANT:
Tel: 01483 569334
Fax: 01483 564071
catering@yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
More Information can
be found at the: www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
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