The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse was founded in 1913, although the current building dates from 1931 and was given a major refurbishment in 1999. It hosts touring shows, concerts and productions by local companies and is run by the volunteers of the dedicated Altrincham Garrick Society, an amateur company which stages twelve shows a year in the venue. The Gilbert Lawton Auditorium, seating 400 proscenium arch theatre as well as a 50-seat fully equipped studio theatre.

They also have a professional front of house services including: full time box office; bar; kiosk and substantial car-parking.is the main theatre auditorium, hosting 12 Altrincham Garrick performances a year plus many many more outside productions, live music, comedy, conferences and shows from the in house Garrick Academy of Performing Arts (GAPA). It is well equipped with state of the art Lighting and Sound equipment.The Altrincham Garrick’s productions include drama, musical theatre, pantomime, farce and comedy. The society is also support other amateur visiting societies, who hire their theatre to stage their own productions. Additionally, they commercially hire out the facilities to professional touring productions and for corporate purposes. The Garrick has a long and illustrious history from its initial stirrings in November 1913 through to the major redevelopment completed in 1999. The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse  is an Amateur theatre, also known as amateur dramatics, is theatre performed by amateur actors and singers. Amateur theatre groups may stage plays, revues, musicals, light opera, pantomime or variety shows, and do so for the social activity as well as the artistic side. Productions may take place in venues ranging from the open air, community centres or schools to independent or major professional theatres and can be simple light entertainment or demanding drama.

Amateur theatre is distinct from the professional or community theatre simply in that participants are not paid, although this is not always the case, even though the productions staged may be commercial ventures, either to fund further productions, to benefit the community, or for charity. Amateur actors are not typically members of actors’ unions, as these organisations exist to protect the professional industry and discourage their members from working with companies which are not signatories to union contracts.

Those who are interested in a more complete account than is presented here may wish to purchase a copy of?The Flame Still Burns, the story of Altrincham Garrick Playhouse compiled by a true Garrick stalwart, the late Pamela Knox.Built in 1931, and most recently refurbished in 1999, the playhouse consists of two performance spaces. The Gilbert Lawton Auditorium, seating 400, is the main theatre auditorium, hosting 12 Altrincham Garrick performances a year plus many many more outside productions, live music, comedy, conferences and shows from the in house Garrick Academy of Performing Arts (GAPA). It is well equipped with state of the art Lighting and Sound equipment.The Lauriston Studio, seating 50 it is an extremely intimate and stimulating theatre space that has become a fully integral part of the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse with up to five performances a year plus performances from GAPA The theatre has a spacious lobby and a well stocked theatre bar. The theatre is staffed in the main by volunteers but there are a small number of employees in specific areas which need to be staffed during the day – such as the box office, cleaning and workshop. Established in 1914, The Altrincham Garrick Society aims to present Drama, Comedy, Musicals and Pantomime. In its own theatre building in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. The main auditorium seats 400 and is in use throughout September to June. The society produces 12 productions per year as well as several by visiting societies along with a number of one-night shows by individuals or other production companies.