Salterton Drama Club (SDC) has announced its intention to raise £2 million to build an exciting new venue to replace the existing Salterton Playhouse in Budleigh Salterton, East Devon.
The registered charity will be seeking to raise money through a combination of grants and donors and is asking all of those with an interest in the arts and the community to get involved. In a special announcement made to community members at the Playhouse SDC’s Chair Penny Hill
said: “Our Playhouse is approaching the end of its life and that presents opportunity - the possibility of creating a dynamic new premises which can serve not just our club, but the wider community, providing future generations with a sustainable, purpose-built theatre.
The new Playhouse would enable endless possibilities which the current theatre is unable to accommodate including youth activities, workshops, music, talks and community gatherings. “Theatre matters,” she added. “As a charitable organisation, we have always sought to serve the
community by enriching lives through exceptional amateur theatre. Now we’re hoping that the community and those with an interest in the arts will get behind this — not just with their hearts but with their donations and funding efforts to help us deliver this ambitious project as soon and
seamlessly as possible.”
Estimates show that of around 8,000 amateur theatre groups in the UK, only about 150 are known to have their own premises, making the Salterton Drama Club, which was built in 1971, a unique cultural asset to Budleigh Salterton.
The club has invested heavily in their future in the past few years, increasing membership by 168% since 2022, recently launching new website and modern branding, and turning accounts in deficit to the strongest on record.
Their commitment to securing theatre in Budleigh for generations to come is evident, with investment in a feasibility study, conceptual work on a new theatre design, and building a £20,000 seed fund ahead of its big announcement.
SDC, which will be celebrating its 90th birthday in 2028, is seeking both corporate and individual donations. Visuals for the proposed new theatre will be on show during their final show of the year Murder by Misadventure (1-6 December).
Those wishing to discuss donations, membership and express support please contact
info@saltertondrama.co.uk
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