The building was constructed in 1881 and had been used for meetings and a variety of social gatherings at one point it was owned by the Christian Alliance for Women and Girls before becoming privately owned. During this time it continued to be used by the local community for a variety of social functions. The Shaftesbury Theatre was finally opened in September 1959.
The theatre has a seating capacity of 147 and the stage area is approximately 19 feet by 19 feet. In 1967 the company purchased the cottage at the rear of the theatre, providing additional space both backstage and in the public areas of the theatre. As with any old building there have been countless expenses over the years. Towards the end of the 1990s an appeal called “The Shaftesbury Quest” was launched, with the aim of dramatically improving the facilities. As a result, the theatre is now blessed with a new foyer and box office, new toilets, a raked auditorium, new lighting positions etc.
Each year Dawlish Repertory Company stages 5 plays plus a pantomime and the season runs from October to September. We perform there every other summer, the alternate years to performing at the Minack.
To date we have performed:
Cabaret (1993)
Little Shop of Horrors (1995)
The Mikado Revamped (1996)
Merrily We Roll Along (1998)
The Boyfriend (1999)
Return to the Forbidden Planet (2001)
Godspell (2003)
Something’s Afoot (2005)
Its Only Make Believe (2007)
Boogie Nights (2009)
Wedding Singer (2011)
A Slice of Saturday Night (2013)
Dick Barton, Special Agent (2015)
Curtains (2017)
The Shaftesbury Theatre
Brunswick Place
Dawlish
Devon EX7 9PB
Box Office: 01626 863091
Website: www.dawlishrep.com