About The Friends
We have nearly 700 Friends and have raised over £100,000 since our inception in 2006, through annual donations, the ‘Adopt-A-Seat’ scheme, fund-raising events like quiz nights, Gift Aid, other donations and fund-raising performances.
In the summer of 2011 the Theatre lighting went “green”. Energy efficient LED lighting in the foyer, the auditorium and on stage is making a great difference to the Theatre’s energy consumption and, of course, the electricity bill! The Friends have given £10,000 towards this major re-fit, which involved changing not just the light bulbs, but also many of the fittings.
And, around the same time, a Friends donation of £10,000 enabled Strode Theatre’s projection room to go digital. Digital film projection is now a well-tried and tested technology, and it was time for Strode Theatre to catch up. Screenings of operas, plays and ballet from national and international venues have also been enabled by the new digital projection, adding a whole new strand of cultural programming to each season.
Friends’ funds since 2006 have contributed to new sound systems for live shows and film, to the new seats and carpets, and to the new box office system including online booking.
‘Friends’ membership will make you eligible for priority booking one week before each new season and special Friends events.
Please note that each single Friend can book up to four tickets for each show or film during the priority booking week. Joint Friends can book up to eight tickets for each show or film.
To join us we ask for a donation of at least £20 for one person, or £30 for two people at the same address, peryear. Alternatively, you can opt to pay monthly by standing order – a minimum of £2 per month (for one Friend) or £3 per month (for two Friends at the same address).
Special Friends events have included:
- Backstage tours of Strode Theatre
- ‘Meet the Director & Cast’ for the Globe Theatre’s Hamlet
- Outings to productions at the Bristol Hippodrome and the Brewhouse, Taunton
- Preview film screenings
- A private view of a new exhibition
- Special fundraising shows
Please join the Friends of Strode Theatre and help us keep Mid Somerset’s venue for live theatre, film and visual art alive and flourishing during these challenging times.
Please contact the Box Office for a application form or download the PDF version below.
