The Bear Pit was formed in the autumn of 2008 with the aim of creating a permanent, sustainable home for the amateur arts groups in Stratford upon Avon and of creating a focus for the many arts groups in the town.
2009
January: The Bear Pit organises the first Arts Showcase Day in Stratford’s Civic Hall, over twenty of Stratford’s arts societies involved.
July: Award winning comedian Alistair McGowan performs his new one man stand-up show at the Civic Hall to raise funds for The Bear Pit.
2010
January: The Bear Pit website is launched.
February: Bear Pit directors start to look for a suitable building in Stratford-upon-Avon which could be converted into a theatre.
The Town Trust gives The Bear Pit a grant to improve and develop its website.
March: The Bear Pit organises a second Arts Showcase, twenty five arts groups involved and the event is extended to three days.
April: Talks start with the Stratford Town Trust’s Chief Executive aimed at gaining support for the creation of a permanent home for the arts in the town.
The Bear Pit directors meet the Rev. Graham Spicer of the United Reformed Church in Rother Street with the aim of developing the church hall into a theatre and exhibition space.
May: The Bear Pit launches its ‘What’s On’ leaflet, advertising events by the Stratford arts societies.
July: Wilson Roberts directs a production of ‘Toad of Toad Hall’ at Stratford Civic Hall to raise funds for The Bear Pit.
August: Mayor Cllr Jenny Fradgley gifts money from the Mayor’s Fund to The Bear Pit in recognition of the positive work it is doing for the arts in Stratford.
September: The Bear Pit hosts a fund-raising ball in at the Stratford Manor Hotel raising £5,000.
October: Director of the RSC Events and Exhibitions Department approaches The Bear Pit, suggesting an ‘Open House’ event, for the Bear Pit’s performing arts groups.
December: ‘Open House’ showcases the work of thirteen of The Bear Pit’ performing arts societies and plays with great success to a full house at the refurbished Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
The Bear Pit’s performing arts groups are invited to assist the RSC by trialling its planned Open Stages workshops. The RSC launches its Open Stages project, with its aims of developing and celebrating amateur theatre.
2011
January: The Bear Pit under its new Chairman, Simon Allen, begins to forge links with Stratford businesses.
February: The Bear Pit is named as one of the RSC’s partner companies in its Open Stages project, to sit alongside such illustrious names as The Little Theatre Guild and NODA.
March: Director of the RSC Events and Exhibitions Department offers The Bear Pit and its performing arts groups the opportunity of repeating the highly successful ‘Open House’ venture in the Swan Theatre in December.
Proposed plans for the redevelopment of the URC Church hall are drawn up and a feasibility study undertaken, The Town Trust agrees to pay half the costs.
August/September: A fund raising initiative, ‘Faulty Towers’ – The Gourmet Night Experience, runs for five consecutive Sundays in collaboration with Café Pasta in Stratford.
October: The Bear Pit holds a two-day autumn Showcase using the whole of United Reformed Church building for the Bear Pit’s art, craft and music societies.
December: ‘Open House’ at RSC Swan Theatre, 11 performing arts societies take part.
2012
January: The URC agrees that The Bear Pit can use the church hall as a theatre space. The Bear Pit directors agree to concentrate their energies on raising funds to develop the theatre.
February: Dad’s Army is staged in URC in Rother Street; the first joint venture between the URC and The Bear Pit.
March: To raise further funds, The Bear Pit company stages after-dinner entertainment for Rotary Clubs and other groups in and around Warwickshire.
April: Confusions by Alan Ayckbourn, a collaboration between Second Thoughts Drama Group & The Bear Pit, the first to be staged in the proposed theatre space.
The Bear Pit cast of ‘Bazaar and Rummage’ meet Sue Townsend at the Stratford Literary Festival.
August: The back wall of Church Hall repainted. Bear Pit given 45 audience chairs, mirrors for dressing rooms, and black curtaining for back wall of the theatre. The United Reformed Church members purchase a further 25 chairs to be used jointly by church and theatre.
October: The Bear Pit hosts its first touring company. Nuworks Theatre Company from Melbourne, Australia.
2013
March: ‘Vicar of Dibley’ is staged in the United Reformed Church.
September: Kim Hartman becomes Patron of the Bear Pit Theatre. Further fund raising performances of Faulty Towers are staged in collaboration with Wildwood Kitchen in Stratford.
December: Warwickshire County Council issues a grant to URC for improvements to the side path.
2014
January: Outside companies and one-man shows start to book the theatre.
February: Theatre walls are painted black and all walls covered with black curtaining.
March: New lighting rig is installed giving capability of hanging 46 lights.
July: 5-year lease signed with the United Reformed Church.
August: Existing double doors in corridor are opened up to form a new entrance to the theatre.
September: Existing path to theatre is repaired and improved.
Bear Pit gains membership of the Little Theatre Guild
October: Official opening of the theatre by Kim Hartman and launch of the new Bear Pit website.