Salisbury Post

£22 Million Redevelopment Plans Unveiled for Salisbury Playhouse

Ambitious plans for a £22 million transformation of Salisbury Playhouse have been unveiled, with theatre leaders describing the project as a "once-in-a-generation".

Wiltshire Creative has revealed details of its "Stage the Future" redevelopment programme, which will see the Playhouse undergo a major overhaul aimed at creating a net-zero, fully accessible theatre with upgraded production facilities and new opportunities for emerging artists and technicians.

The announcement follows confirmation that Arts Council England has committed £3 million towards the scheme.

The project is designed to modernise the Playhouse while safeguarding its long-term future as one of the region's few fully professional producing theatres.

According to Wiltshire Creative, the venue currently welcomes more than 200,000 visitors each year and reaches around 15,000 people through its Take Part programme. The redevelopment is intended to expand that reach while improving accessibility and sustainability.

Rosa Corbishley, Executive Director of Wiltshire Creative, and Artistic Director Gareth Machin said the plans would help secure the future of the theatre for generations to come.

The organisation said the investment would unlock greater producing capacity, allowing for more ambitious productions while supporting local jobs, creative talent, suppliers and businesses.

Over the years, Salisbury Playhouse has welcomed a host of well-known performers including Ewan McGregor, Ruby Wax, Rupert Everett, Timothy West, Prunella Scales, Claire Sweeney, Hermione Norris and Pete Postlethwaite.

Salisbury MP John Glen welcomed the plans, describing local theatres as organisations that not only bring communities together but also support economic growth and help nurture future generations of performers and creative professionals.

Work is expected to be completed over the next three years, with Wiltshire Creative promising to provide further updates as the project progresses.

Artist impressions released alongside the announcement show a significantly refreshed exterior featuring a modern glass frontage and enhanced public spaces designed to improve the visitor experience.

If delivered as planned, the redevelopment will represent one of the largest cultural investments seen in Salisbury in recent years and could help cement the Playhouse's position as a major regional arts venue for decades to come.