Crediton Arts Centre

Crediton Arts Centre is housed in a converted Victorian buildings formerly known as Haywards School. In the 1960's these were transformed into a suitably equipped 'black box' drama studio to be used as an experimental theatre space by local schools, education students and other organisations.

In 1983, Colway Theatre Trust chose Crediton as the venue for one of its Community Plays. 'Today of All Days', was specially written by John Downie and ran for 14 nights with a cast of 120, re-energising many of the town's arts organisations, such as the Town Band, and also leading to the formation of the Brown Paper Bag Theatre Company.

In 1992 the Drama Centre was formally instituted as a charity with Peter Hamilton as its Director. Theatre productions continued as well as the introduction of classes and workshops in every aspect of the arts and in 1995 the first of 8 biennial large-scale outdoor productions of Shakespeare plays in the Town Council car park in the centre of Crediton, with a specially erected 400 seat auditorium. More recently these have been staged in the new Town Square.

More recently, in 2000, the Millennium Amphitheatre was created at Shobrooke Park, in conjunction with the Shelley family, to host festivals, plays, music and film.

In 2004 the Drama Centre took the decision to acknowledge the broadening of its base by becoming Crediton Arts Centre, a charitable trust managed by a Board of Trustees and an Administrator.

Crediton Arts Centre, East Street, Crediton. EX17 3AX