Wiltshire’s only city has a lively arts scene centred around the purpose-built Salisbury Playhouse, with it’s 517-seat main house, and 149-seat Salberg. Fancy a night out out? Then this is your place. Quality theatre, comedy, live music, film streaming – it’s all on here.

It’s fabulous that The Playhouse is, unusually, a producing theatre, whereas many provincial theatres are receiving houses that put on touring shows. Of course the Playhouse does that too, but it also has its own, high quality professional productions with top acting & directing talent.

Recent successes include John Godber’s September in the Rain, directed by Wiltshire Creative Artistic Director Gareth Machin, ex of our other fave, Bristol Old Vic. Their current show, The Lemon Table by Julian Barnes, stars Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine!) and is directed by Michael Grandage (of Frozen in the West End). We’re counting the days til their Christmas family show, Snow White and the Happy Ever After Beauty Salon.

Their Spring 2022 line-up is super exciting, with contemporary dance genius Mark Bruce and Stewart Lee, the best stand-up comedian of all time* (*according to Stewart Lee. And us).

The International Festival is back in May & June 2022 with a theme of Islands, having had, like everyone, an enforced year off. We can’t wait to see what they’ve got lined up for us. There’s always so much free pop-up theatre, it makes wandering around the City in early summer a joy.

The Arts Centre is in a gorgeous, airy converted church. There’s a scrummy cafe, with probably the best outdoor seating in Salisbury. Hosting frequent free art and craft exhibitions, it’s a proper community hub, with loads of space for the many groups that use it. Extra points from us for their new bar and funky designer lighting. A programme of daytime events includes workshops and classes: pottery, music, yoga, singing, with special classes for tots, teens, older people and LGBTQ+.  Evenings see informal socials such comedy nights and the teen-focused Shift Social with live bands. There’s a chilled buzz to the place – pop-in for a coffee and see for yourself.