The Electric Theatre is a

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

located in

Guildford Guildford () is a town in west Surrey, around southwest of central London. As of the 2011 census, the town has a population of about 77,000 and is the seat of the wider Borough of Guildford, which had around inhabitants in . The name "Guildf ...

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, which has gained a widespread reputation for promotion of the musical arts at all levels from community workshops to concerts by internationally well-known artists. The theatre is housed in a former electricity works which used to provide power to Guildford town centre. The works lay dormant from 1968 until the building's potential as a theatre was recognised; 1997 saw the opening of The Electric Theatre in the converted premises. The guitarist

Eric Roche Eric Roche (4 December 1967 – 6 September 2005) was an Irish fingerstyle guitarist. Biography Roche was born in New York City, after which his family moved to Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. He was an accountant, but practised only for a shor ...

recorded a live

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kin ...

at the Electric Theatre in May 2003. In 2008 a Family Festival in conjunction with the

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...

' "Prince's Foundation for Children and the Arts" took place. Prior to the ACM takeover the annual Film Festivals showed a variety of classic, art house and world cinema. Following the takeover the film festival initially showed more mainstream films before ceasing to run. In 2017 the Guildford-based Academy of Contemporary Music signed a 20-year lease with Guildford Borough Council to operate The Electric Theatre. The Electric Theatre had become a major regional attraction, hosting a youth theatre and hosting some events the annual Guildford Book Festival and the International Music Festival. The Electric Theatre has hosted numerous concerts by

Folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Folk Plus or Fol ...

and acoustic musical acts. These concerts continue under the "Electric Voices" brand and include acts such as

Dick Gaughan Richard Peter Gaughan (born 17 May 1948) is a Scottish musician, singer and songwriter, particularly of folk and social protest songs. He is regarded as one of Scotland's leading singer-songwriters. Early years Gaughan was born in Glasgow's Roy ...

, the

Copper Family The Copper Family are a family of singers of traditional, unaccompanied English folk song. Originally from Rottingdean, near Brighton, Sussex, England, the nucleus of the family now live in the neighbouring village of Peacehaven. The family first ...

Ashley Hutchings Ashley Stephen Hutchings, MBE, sometimes known in early years by his nickname, "Tyger" Hutchings (born 26 January 1945) is an English bassist, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, band leader, writer and record producer. He was a founding member of t ...

Bill Caddick Lewis Frederick William Caddick (27 June 1944 – 19 November 2018) was an English folk singer-songwriter and guitarist, particularly noted for his songwriting and as a member of the innovative and influential group Home Service. Career outli ...

, and

Coope Boyes and Simpson Coope Boyes and Simpson was an English vocal folk trio, formed around 1990. Their sound was rich and often had unusual vocal harmonies. The group comprised singers Barry Coope, Jim Boyes (formerly of Swan Arcade) and Lester Simpson, and almost a ...

External links

Official Website

References

Theatres completed in 1997 Theatres in Surrey Buildings and structures in Guildford 1913 establishments in England {{UK-theat-struct-stub