Located in Old Town, Swindon Arts Centre is an intimate venue particularly suitable for music, small-scale drama and comedy. It has:

• A 212-seater theatre
• The Gallery Bar (used as a cafe during the day, and for visual arts exhibitions)
• A studio
• A meeting room

The Arts Centre re-opened in January 2003. A lift in the new entrance gives easy access to the theatre, and there are new accessible toilets. New seats have been installed in the auditorium.

The centre features all types of music, professional and amateur theatre, nationally-recognised comedians, films, children's events, and one-man shows. Recent visitors include:

• Musicians Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent (The Zombies), The Puppini Sisters, Ralph Mc Tell, Catherine Feeny and Focus
  
• Comedians Lenny Henry, Frank Skinner, Michael McIntyre, Punt & Dennis and Jeremy Hardy
  
• Drama productions including The Tempest, Orwell's Animal Farm, and the Bristol Old Vic production of Private Peaceful
  
• Sir John Major and Claire Tomalin, who appeared in the 2007 Swindon Festival of Literature.

The Arts Centre also hosts the Swindon Recital Series of classical music concerts, the Swindon Music Festival, and the One Act Play Festival. The Swindon Film Society shows an eclectic mix of British and international films. A meeting place for several local societies and home for three local drama groups, it also provides the venue for arts classes throughout the year.

Patrons: Pam Ayres, George Baker.

Friends of Swindon Arts Centre (FoSAC)

The Friends of Swindon Arts Centre provide support to the Arts Centre. For an annual subscription of £15 benefits include priority booking facilities, standby prices a week before the event, and regular discount offers. The ticket office can provide further information.

Ticket Office

Open Monday to Friday 12 noon-5.00pm and Saturday 10.00am-1.00pm.

Telephone: 01793 614837.

Another useful website

Check out Theatreworks, an essential new theatre resource for Swindon and Wiltshire, Bath, and NE Somerset.