STUDIO Theatre launched its £350,000 fundraising bid to build a two-storey extension on its existing premises in Salisbury during a gala performance of The Ladykillers.

The gala performance on Friday was attended by long-standing Studio Theatre president, singer and entertainer Rosemary Squires, and patrons, playwright and novelist Barney Norris, and Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury, who is the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Culture, Media and Sport.

Studio Theatre chairman George Goulding said: “We have a real opportunity to improve our facilities and make Studio Theatre a community hub for a multitude of activities besides putting on plays.

“Ten years ago, we built our new theatre after years of applying for grants and fund-raising. Today money is much tighter, but we know there is a lot of support for Studio locally and we will be seeking help from the South Wiltshire community whether it is goods in kind, expertise and advice, practical assistance or plain hard cash. “It’s a big ask, but we managed it before and are determined to do so again.”

The new extension to the Ashley Road theatre will provide additional dressing rooms, a scenery dock and a rehearsal room as well as extra space to store furniture, costumes and props.

The amdram group says the new facilities will enable it to meet legislation regarding appropriate dressing rooms for young people and provide a rehearsal room for the theatre, which can also be used as a community space for hire during the day and at weekends.

It says its own productions involve more and more young people and the theatre is increasingly in demand by organisations like the Scouts and local schools, so the new facilities will help to increase its usage by community groups.

A rehearsal room would also mean more productions could be staged, maximising use of the space.