Haymarket Theatre and Market Chambers Performers Together
As many of you will know, there is a long story to tell about the history of the Haymarket Theatre. In the 1970’s there was no space in the building for rehearsals and administrative offices for a professional theatre company but, there was a young actor/director who thought Basingstoke should have its own professional theatre company.
Guy Slater founded the Horseshoe Theatre Company in 1974 and secured the old maternity hospital called The Shrubbery, in Cliddesden Road as rehearsal space. This remained the home of the company for sixteen years. In 1992 Hampshire County Council decided to bring in the bulldozers and razed The Shrubbery to the ground! Where would Basingstoke’s OWN theatre company rehearse now?
Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council came to the rescue and decided to build an extension to the Haymarket Theatre by using offices above the shops in Church Street. Anvil Arts used the extension for a while and then decided that with the demise of the resident company, they did not need the Haymarket Extension; it remained empty for over three years. The late, and much-missed Hannah Williams, arranged for the building to be leased to her and two others from BATS Next Gen who would be the main users of the venue for their rehearsals, Fiona Morgans and Sandie Thomson. Fiona and Sandie remain the leaseholders, supported by Jill, Lesley and Ryan as part of the volunteer committee who run and maintain Market Chambers.
On May 25th 2015 it re-opened under its new name Market Chambers Performers Together.
The building is run entirely by volunteers and varied activities take place behind its green doors.
If you would like to visit us or become involved in any way please contact:
Committee
Chair
FIONA MORGANS
Secretary
SANDIE THOMSON
Treasurer/Room Bookings
JILLIAN BRANNAM
Committee
LESLEY RUST
RYAN STEVENS @ STEVENS-SIGNAGE.CO.UK (Publicity/marketing)
Bookings
Booking Enquires
jillianbrannam@hotmail.com
General Enquiries
marketchamberspt@gmail.com