On the opening night an audience member walked out of the theatre and berated the cast for the use of bad language and the 'controversial' nature of the subject material.

During this time a considerable number of now famous actors, writers and directors appeared with the company[6][7] and it became renowned as a breeding ground for new UK talent to emerge onto the theatrical scene.

John Hole was appointed as the theatre's director and he later convinced the board of trustees to form a professional company that would run for eight weeks of the year to dovetail with the amateur programme.

Directors during this era included, Sam Walters, David Wood, Mick Hughes,[11] Don Dryden and John Hope-Mason.

[13] Productions during his tenure continued the eclectic programme set up by John Hole and included A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Lion in Winter, The Philanthropist, The Mating Game, Boeing Boeing, Sleuth, Absurd Person Singular, Oh Coward, Funny Peculiar and Mrs. Warren's Profession.

[14] Other large scale productions included Treasure Island, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Animal Farm Dr. Faustus and Godspell (starring Bonnie Langford).

John Doyle had made his directorial debut with the Worcester Repertory Company as its Associate Director[15] under Patrick Masefield with Sailor Beware.

[16][17] His first production as Artistic Director was Cabaret which also marked the professional debut of Rufus Norris as a member of the supporting cast.

Ginman's tenure focused more on classical works including The Mystery Plays, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Servant to Two Masters and The Tempest.

Productions staged during this time included Othello[20], The Glass Menagerie, The Recruiting Officer, Our Country's Good, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Far From the Madding Crowd and The Lusty Comedy of Tom Jones.

Productions during her time as Artistic Director includes, The Wizard of Oz, Steaming, The Malvern Widow, The Importance of Being Earnest, Talking Heads, When I Was A Girl, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf, Henceforward, The Seagull and Private Lives.