Part 5: Into the 21st Century
Over the ensuing years there have been major front of house improvements. Land at the rear was acquired in 1995. 2001 saw the Phoenix Room extension. Asbestos was removed in 2004 and more …
Part 4: A Phoenix From the Ashes
In the early hours of Thursday 24th June 1965 a catastrophic fire broke out in the next-door premises occupied by a builders merchants and an electricians shop.
“Despite the best efforts of …
Part 3: Grand Opening of the Old Market Playhouse
The Old 
Market Playhouse had its Grand Opening in November 1957 with a performance of “The Sleeping Monk” with proceeds going to the restoration fund of St Peter’s Church, Shaftesbury’s only …
Part 2: The Purchase and Conversion of the Upper Market Hall
They were also busy getting “Charley’s Aunt” ready for Shaftesbury’s Festival of Britain programme in the summer of 1951 and had lost the loft they had been using as …