Guildford Shakespeare Company launches funding drive for permanent home

Guildford Shakespeare Company has launched its first fundraising campaign in a bid to secure a permanent home.

The New Beginnings campaign hopes to raise £75,000 to realise the company’s ambitions of establishing a home in Guildford. The space would be used for rehearsal, education programming and storage for the company’s props and furniture as well as housing a workshop and office space.

GSC, which receives no public subsidy, currently hires rehearsal and education spaces on an ad-hoc basis and has several storage units in different locations.

The company’s co-founder Matt Pinches said: “These may seem small needs but they are vital, basic things that a professional theatre company needs to operate efficiently. To have all this under one roof will ensure GSC can meet the strategic goal of being a valuable asset and resource for Guildford, of which residents can be proud.”

GSC will be raising money throughout this year, which marks its 10th anniversary, through a new benefactors scheme and special fundraising events.

Pinches added: “By finding our own home we can ensure we remain part of the fabric of the town, and create a place where artists want to work, and where we can inspire the artists and audiences of the future. With the public’s help we can do this.”