Council asks for ideas on future of Surrey theatre

The Electric Theatre was rented out in 2017, but the leaseholder has ended the agreement

A series of engagement activities about the future of the Electric Theatre, after its leaseholder handed back the keys, is being held by Guildford Borough Council (GBC).

The former operators said losses of £250,000 in 2023-24 had been recorded and the venue could no longer be subsidised.

The Electric Theatre first opened in 1997 and was originally an electricity works for the town.

The CEO of the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM), which until May had the same parent company as the former operators, said the Surrey theatre was a "phenomenal venue" and they wanted to be involved with discussions about its future.

'Wonderful opportunity'

GBC said it was planning to launch a community survey, and hold informal drop-in sessions throughout November and December and a stakeholder roundtable event in January 2026.

Council leader Julia McShane said: "These activities offer a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and help shape the future for the Electric Theatre.

"I'm excited to hear your ideas and see how we can bring this special space back to life. Together we can determine what happens next."

Gordon Sweeney from ACM told BBC Radio Surrey they would like to either run it themselves or work with whoever takes on the lease.

ACM used to rent the theatre for classes for their students and Mr Sweeney said they were "keen to continue" with that arrangement.

"We'd love to be part of that conversation," he said. "We think we can offer a lot."