With the multitude of local talent at the Phoenix Theatre, the people of Ross need not travel far to experience art or culture.

The Phoenix Theatre is an amateur group based in the heart of Ross-on-Wye and dates back all the way to 1921. With a seating capacity of 64, the theatre provides locals with an artistic base in which they can both participate in, and enjoy theatre, singing, and film viewings in a unique, intimate setting.

The theatre has more than 100 members who come from the local community. Director and actor Brian Jackson explained to the Ross Gazette that it is not just about acting and singing at the Phoenix Theatre Company; its members run the whole theatre enterprise, from stewarding, to props, to the box office, to the technical hub.

Brian told the Gazette: "The actors and singers are not the only performers at the Phoenix, the skills required to run, for example, the technical side of production is an art itself, and these members of the Phoenix are also performing during productions, not just those on stage.”

The theatre company has three main amateur performance groups; the Phoenix Players – which consists of the adult amateur actors, the Singers, and the Phoenix’s award winning Youth Theatre.

The Players’ most recent production, Anastasia, was performed to great acclaim and had visitors writing to the Gazette commending the performance, saying “It is difficult to believe that their cast are not professionals from the West End”.

The local theatre has a huge costume department which is run by Lynn Tate. A large quantity of their clothes are donated; Iris Price, a good friend of the theatre, works for a charity shop and constantly keeps an eye out for pieces that would be useful for future productions.

As well as artistic talent, the Phoenix is home to an impressive hub of technology, which is run by Trevor Jones, who has been a member of the Phoenix Theatre Company for over 30 years. The Phoenix have recently had high tech audio and visual systems installed so that audiences have a modern technological experience when visiting the old fashioned theatre.

Not only does this technology allow for excellent lighting and audio effects during theatrical performances, but it significantly enhances the audience’s cinematic experience at the Phoenix. Cinema nights, featuring both old and new films, are a regular occurrence at this local theatre and tickets can sell out fast.

With its range of production types and participation opportunities, the Phoenix Theatre truly caters for everyone who wishes get lost in the world of art. The next performance the Phoenix Players will be putting on is ‘Summer of the 17 Dolls’ which is due to be showcased at the end of May.

For further information or to contact the Phoenix Theatre, visit their website at http://www.phoenix-theatre.org.uk.