SALISBURY Playhouse is opening its doors on Saturday and inviting everyone to have a look behind the scenes.

The free open day takes place from 9.30am to 3.30pm.Visitors will be able to take part in backstage tours to meet the teams who make sets and costumes, take a look inside an actor’s dressing room and visit areas normally hidden from public view.

There will be technical demonstrations and costume displays to view while archive displays will celebrate 40 years in Malthouse Lane.

Salisbury Playhouse’s community groups — Mind the Gap and Stage 65 Youth Theatre — will present a series of performances along with the BTEC Performing Arts students and associate company DANCE SIX-O.

A series of panel discussions with members of staff and performers past and present will look at Salisbury Playhouse through the ages and there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved with family activities.

Staff members will be on hand to answer questions about what goes into putting productions on stage and how the magic happens.

The cast of Frankenstein will perform extracts from the production on the main stage and, also that day, performances of The Owl and the Pussycat’s Treasury of Nonsense will take place in The Salberg at 11am and 2pm.

Salisbury Playhouse was recently named as the most welcoming theatre in the south west. 

And from Thursday, November 3 to Saturday 5 there will be a special production of Putting the Band Back Together in the The Salberg, which will give some members of the audience who used to play an instrument the opportunity to join the band live on stage.

Putting the Band Back Together visits for just four performances. Audiences can choose to see the show with or without joining the band.

From Tuesday, November 8 Lady Chatterley’s Lover comes to the Main House for one week only. It stars Hedydd Dylan as Lady Chatterley and Jonah Russell as Mellors.

For tickets call 01722 320333