20 Years of Guildford Shakespeare Company
Tabled 12 October 2026 by Zöe Franklin
That this House congratulates Guildford Shakespeare Company on reaching its 20th anniversary in 2026; notes that since its founding in 2006 by Sarah Gobran and Matt Pinches, the company has grown into a highly respected independent theatre company, renowned for producing exceptional theatre in extraordinary places across Guildford and Surrey; recognises its outstanding contribution to the cultural life of Guildford through innovative productions, including performances in historic and community venues; commends its commitment to widening access to the arts through its extensive creative learning, education and social engagement programmes, which provide tens of thousands of participation opportunities for young people and community groups each year; further recognises the company's pioneering work in using theatre to support community engagement, youth development and crime prevention initiatives across Surrey; further notes the company's recognised contribution to combining artistic excellence with social impact, including projects supporting inclusion, wellbeing and youth engagement; applauds its role in enhancing Guildford's cultural identity and inspiring audiences over the past two decades; and wishes everyone involved with Guildford Shakespeare Company every success for its anniversary programme and for many more years of enriching the community through theatre.