About Us
About the Theatre
Altrincham Garrick Playhouse is the beating heart of the community. A theatre, cinema, youth academy and community creative social place for all to enjoy.
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The Garrick Theatre
Established in 1914, The Altrincham Garrick Society aims to present Drama, Comedy, Musicals and Pantomime – and is happy to consider presenting other forms of the dramatic arts ! The Playhouse was built through membership donations in 1932 – its main auditorium seats 401 and is typically in use throughout September to July. A Garrick Academy of the Performing Arts runs term-time Saturday classes for children aged 5 to 18, as well as a week-long Summer School in August.
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The Society typically produces 13 main stage productions per year, including the Pantomime and the annual GAPA (Youth Academy) production. The Playhouse also hosts many shows from professional individuals and professional production companies. In addition, the Garrick Picturehouse comprises a large screen, which is used to show cinema films and “as-live” recordings of professionally-staged productions. Finally, the Studio is a 49-seat venue at the back of the building, in which more experimental and more intimate theatre is staged.
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The theatre is staffed and managed mainly by volunteers, with a small number of employees in specific areas (for example the Artistic Director and Operations Director, Box Office, Accounting, Maintenance and more). The theatre is a registered charity, so the management of the theatre finances and legal issues is governed by a Board of Trustees. Together this makes up the Garrick Theatre family.
The Garrick Studio
If you are looking for something more exciting to tickle your theatrical taste buds, why not throw caution to the wind and visit our smaller theatre: The Studio. The Studio is perfect for that feeling of being part of the action and where you can experience the intimacy of the story telling. Here you can get up close and personal with the actors as they wow you with their performances. We do not allow touching or the feeding of our actors, however, as some of them have been known to bite!
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The Studio has its own private entrance onto the car park and patrons have full use of the Garrick bar and all our facilities in the main building. It seats 49 comfortably and it is also accessible for wheelchairs. The Studio is where we stage productions that are not always suitable for our main stage (401 seats) and therefore our shows often fill up quickly. The Studio’s reputation has continued to grow over the years with its thought-provoking and exciting plays. We regularly experience sell-out shows. These productions can be challenging, deeply moving, hilarious or outrageous! You decide.