Welcome to the Woolstore Country Theatre, one of the only theatres in the Uk run solely by its members.
Based in the village of Codford, near Warminster in Wiltshire, we are a small but well equipped theatre that is used by a wide range of entertainers including local actors and actresses, travelling performers and monthly cinema showings.
The Woolstore's main aim is to continue to provide high quality entertainment to a wide range of audiences.
Wednesday 1st February
TINKER, TAYLOR, SOLDIER, SPY (15)
Big screen version of John Le Carre’s 1974 espionage classic. Gary Oldman excels as George Smiley. Colin Firth, John Hurst, Ciaran Hinds and Toby Jones also star. Seedy, grimy, menacing – gripping!
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Wednesday 7th March
BENEATH HILL 60 (12A)
Australian drama set during the First World War and the true story of Oliver Woodward and his team who undermined the German lines in Flanders. An epic war story mixed with romantic sub-plot.
Wednesday 4th April
THE HELP (12A)
Based on the hit ‘reading group’ novel by Kathryn Stockett. Set in Mississippi during the 1960’s, Skeeter (Emma Stone) is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends’ lives – and a Mississippi town – upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families.
Contact Box Office
Cinderella - December 2011
Directed By Derek Miles
The review of the SOLD OUT Woolstore Theatre Panto will be posted shortly.
The cast and crew would like to thank all the audiences for making it a wonderful night, especailly those men that were taken away by the Ugly sisters and were never seen again. Both Euthanasia and Asphxyia have promised to bring them back...... eventually!
If you have any comment on any aspect of the show please feel free to let us know in our Guest Book.
Here are a selection of photos from the show, more can be seen on our Facebook page where they can also be down loaded too. Click on the link to go to our facebook page.
Facebook Pictures
WOOLSTORE THEATRE TRIPS TO SOUTHAMPTON 2011 / 2012
To book, or further details, phone Mrs. Karen Johnstone 01985 850258
2011
8 Oct
Slava's Snowshow - at 2pm.
Fantastic spectacle with giant snowballs floating in and amongst the audience.
22 Oct
Strictly Gershwin - at 2-30pm.
English National Ballet. Celebrating the life of Gershwin with the Big Band era, Hollywood musicals from ballet to tap, ballroom to jazz.
2012
7 Jan
Peter Pan - matinee at 1-30pm.
The boy who never grew up.
25 Feb
Sister Act - matinee at 2pm.
The Disco Diva who sees a murder and is put into a convent to protect her.
Little Theatre, BIG Effects
From the moment that you arrive at the Woolstore’s deep green entrance, with its eye-catching trim and calligraphy, you will have no doubt that you are about to enter a theatre that prides itself on its high standards.
From the grand reception room with its separate bar and refreshments area, to the purpose made auditorium with its red tiered comfortable seating, there is an air of professionalism about the place.
HISTORY OF THE WOOLSTORE
Most theatres come with an interesting history and the Woolstore is no exception. As its name suggests, it goes back a long time, certainly as far as 1758 when it was used as a collection point for all the fleeces from local farms. The present theatre building was then an open yard, which the carts used to turn into and wait for the fleeces to be taken into the main building for grading and storing until they were ready to be taken to the mill for washing and weaving.
If the fleeces got wet, they became very heavy to handle, so the open yard was later roofed in to keep the fleeces dry.
In WW1 the building was first used as a cinema and then later, until the 1920s, as the village hall. A Colonel Sneyd bought the whole Woolstore building and created a theatre on the present site for his young wife, who was a keen amateur actress. He was a wealthy man and had a stage built and seating installed, so that his whole family and friends could put on performances.
After a while the family allowed another group, the Codford Amateurs, to use the theatre as well, each group performing a play in rotation. As the Sneyds were great friends with the Head of Drama at Bristol University and also a teacher at RADA, their group thrived.
During WW2 the building was used by the armed forces as a mess hall with an occasional show.
The Woolstore reverted to being an amateur theatre after having been returned to the Sneyds in 1948. In the 1950s it was decided that the two groups would amalgamate and three members each donated £400 to buy the theatre and form the Woolstore Country Theatre. Their aim was to promote amateur theatre throughout the Wylye Valley, which they have continued to do ever since
The Woolstore Country Theatre is a registered charity, run by its members, none of whom is paid for the enormous amount of work they do. This allows the annual surplus made from performances to be ploughed back into the running of the theatre.
The current members of the committee, who are each elected for a one-year term at the Annual General Meeting, are shown above. Any paid up member of the Woolstore may seek a nomination to be elected to the Committee.
Our Address
Woolstore Country Theatre
High Street
Codford
Wiltshire
BA12 0NE
Box Office
Post Office
New Road Service Station
New Road
WARMINSTER
BA12 0NS
Box Office Tel Number
01985 850345 (option 3)
Please do let us know here what you think about shows you have seen or pass on any other comments you might wish to make.
Thank you.
Copyright Woolstore Theatre 2011 (Jnx Webdesign)
