Monthly News

New Lease of Life for The Mission Theatre

11 / 2010

A theatre driven by a Bath couple’s energy and vision has signed a long-term lease to safeguard its future.

The Next Stage Theatre Company has now agreed a 20-year lease with Bath and North East Somerset Council over the Mission venue in Corn Street.

Next Stage founders Ann Garner and Andrew Ellison had spent the last 12 months in negotiation with B&NES after signing a 10-year arrangement in 2004 over what was then a derelict building.

Without the security of a longer-term lease, it was becoming increasingly difficult for the company to attract private funding, with donations essential to help with the Grade II listed building’s running costs, upkeep and repairs.

The Mission - set in what was once a chapel - has never received any public funding.

The couple had been given the keys to the building in November 2004, after beating off competition from private businesses to get the property.

A team of Next Stage volunteers and 13 contractors then had two months to rewire the building and put in carpets, curtains, lights, heating, sound facilities, staging, tables and chairs to create a state-of-the-art versatile theatre before the first show opened in January 2005.

The past six years have seen the Mission welcome a variety of local, national and international performers in the fields of drama, opera, music, comedy, dance and literature.

The venue, which has its own vegetarian bistro, has also been used for events from the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature, the Jane Austen Festival, the Bath International Music Festival, and the Mid-Somerset Festival while next year the Bath Literature Festival will be utilising it for the first time.

The theatre company has trebled the number of productions it puts on itself - from four to 12 a year, while its Next Stage Youth section has increased in size from 12 to 60 members over the six years.

Ms Garner, who is artistic director of Next Stage and director of the Mission, said: “It has been a dream come true.

“To see this lovely building alive and buzzing with talented performers, visited by up to 1,000 people a week, with a popular vegetarian Bistro, a thriving resident theatre company and youth theatre, is more than I could have ever dared to hope for.

“It has all been made possible by the generosity of private funders, local businesses, personal friends, Next Stage members and the tireless work of our volunteers.

“However, above all, we should like to thank friends and supporters in the council who have believed in our vision for The Mission and have worked on our behalf to make it a reality. To everyone, a huge thank you.”

- Paul Wiltshire, The Bath Chronicle
Thursday 4 November 2010