Concerns over future of Electric Theatre

Concerns have been raised about the future of a Surrey theatre after the operator said it was unable to continue to subsidise it.

The Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM), which has been running the Electric Theatre in Guildford since 2017, said the venue made a loss "in excess" of £250,000 over the period of a year.

A number of shows scheduled after the end of March have been cancelled.

Guildford Borough Council, which leases the theatre to ACM, has been contacted for comment.

In a statement, ACM said: "Due to the current financial climate and pressure that the education sector is experiencing, it has been necessary for ACM to cancel or move some public events from April 2025 at the Electric Theatre while we assess the viability and safety of the operation."

It added: "We are sorry for the inconvenience this will cause to local groups and artists, but ACM is unable to continue to subsidise this venue which has run at a loss since ACM took over the lease from Guildford Borough Council in 2017.

"In the 23/24 financial year the theatre made a loss in excess of £250,000."

ACM said that customers would be offered refunds and it would work with the council to see if the theatre could be transferred to another operator.

Several groups and performers have reacted to the news on social media.

The Guildford Amateur Theatre Association said it hoped another company or organisation could be found to run it, while Guildburys Theatre Company, said it was "incredibly sad" to learn its production of Everyman would be the last community show at the Electric in its current form.

The building, which first opened as a theatre in 1997, was originally an electricity works for the town between 1913 and 1968.

In 2016 Guildford Borough Council made the decision to lease the venue in order to make savings.

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