Shaftesbury’s thriving arts centre is housed in the old covered market in the centre of the Saxon hilltop town. The iconic Gold Hill and the ruins of the once mighty Shaftesbury Abbey lie at its very heart, its magnificent views inspiring artists, writers, musicians and pilgrims for centuries.

Poet and novelist Thomas Hardy was fascinated by Shaston: “The city of a dream… one of the queerest and quaintest spots in England… breezy and whimsical.”

Shaftesbury became a busy market town, connecting London and Falmouth, and traders needed a market hall. In 1855 Richard Grosvenor provided one, its entrance through elegant iron gates on the High Street, another entrance in Bell Street, which is now the Shaftesbury Arts Centre. When General Augustus Pitt- Rivers built extravagant pleasure gardens at the Larmer Tree, locals attended summer picnics while tourists flocked to Shaftesbury.

A crowded Gold Hill in 1905

Travellers looking for overnight accommodation on market days found it in the less salubrious, over- crowded houses on Gold Hill and along St James. This changed in 1919 with the famous “Sale of Shaftesbury”. The Talking Pictures had arrived and with them a cinema.
The Palace Picture House stood at the bottom of the High Street but was demolished in 1925. The Savoy Cinema opened on Bimport in 1933.
In austerity ridden post-war Britain, it was clear that Shaftesbury needed a permanent organisation to encourage people to take part in cultural life. The Shaftesbury and District Arts Club was born.
Their ambitious first offering was staged in the Savoy Cinema. Performers included Zuilmah Hopkins (soprano),

Sybil Willey (contralto) and Sydney Snape (baritone). Drama, music and camera groups followed and the club arranged its first Art Exhibition at The Town Hall. They needed a home.

The High Street in 1920 with the Palace Picture House

The Savoy Cinema in 1940

Local architect Eric Stevens suggested purchasing the empty Upper Market Hall in Bell Street, secured in 1952 for the grand sum of £750. Donations came from Miss Belfield’s Chalke Valley School of Dancing, the Drama Group agreed to stage at least four productions a year and other members went all out to raise funds with sales of artwork, bridge drives, concerts, exhibitions and raspberry teas. Volunteers were drafted in and timber flooring and doors were obtained from a manor house.
Tradesmen helped readily with advice, concrete mixers, wheelbarrows and tools.
The conversion took four and a half years to complete. The Old Market Playhouse had its Grand Opening in November 1957 with sold- out performances of The Sleeping Monk.
In 1965, plans to improve the playhouse were sent in for approval, but disaster struck.

GRAND RE-OPENING: The cast of production of The Sleeping Monk from 1957

CELEBRATION TIME: The grand re-opening in November 1957

In the early hours of June 24, 1965, a catastrophic fire broke out and ravaged the centre. You can still see a fire damaged beam over the emergency exit doors as a reminder. Members sorted through the debris, salvaging where possible – although luckily the building was well insured. Two years later on June 3, 1967, the centre re- opened.

The drama group’s first Christmas production was Toad of Toad Hall.
Since then, more than 50 Christmas shows and pantomimes have been staged.

A scene from Toad of Toad Hall from June 1967

Over the ensuing years there have been major improvements. In 2013 the adjacent shop was converted into the art gallery and the dance studio was unveiled in October 2019.

The arts centre is a hub of activity, with music and drama groups, poetry, art classes, a burgeoning film society, a host of workshops and a plethora of health and beauty offerings.

The centre houses events for the phenomenally successful Shaftesbury Fringe Festival and will do for the inaugural Shaftesbury Literary Festival next year.

The Shaftesbury Snowdrop Festival draws in visitors from across the globe – and starred in BBC One’s Countryfile just weeks before the first coronavirus lockdown.

The art gallery showcases the talents of many artists, drawing inspiration from an area that has always held a fascinating allure. Shaftesbury Arts Centre can’t wait to welcome you all through its doors again. “Despite the recent setbacks, in the spirit of the arts centre, plans are already in place for the future.

“When possible, The Gallery will reopen and a programme of recorded theatre performances and films awaits, including Warhorse, Fleabag, Summerland and The Bolshoi Ballet’s Nutcracker, whilst Zoom rehearsals for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are underway in the hope that it can be staged at the end of January.”

The show must go on!

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