As a venue, it also hires its four performance spaces to a host of visitors each year, nationally and internationally, both amateur and professional.

The company moved to newly built premises on Cumberland Street in 1964, designed by Graham Winteringham of S.T.

The apron stage and first seven rows of seats were on a revolving platform to turn the interior into an arena theatre.

The theatre is run by a board of directors elected from the membership including chairman, secretary and treasurer.

There is a small team of paid staff who look after the day-to-day running of the building and supervise the hire operation.