THE fortieth anniversary of the first show in The Haymarket by Guy Slater’s Horseshoe Theatre Company has just passed.

The Horseshoe, in its time, brought actors of incredible calibre to Basingstoke, including Peter Cushing, Derek Jacobi and Timothy West.

The first show in 1974 was Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking and a play about Basingstoke, Brave New Town, opened on December 10.

Professional productions were conceived, rehearsed and then staged, in their entirety, in our historical theatre building in the centre of the town, which has been there in one form or another since a corn exchange was opened on the site in 1865.

Sadly for Basingstoke, things have changed in the last decade. There is no longer a professional repertory company in the building, and we have lost the season of plays such a company would produce every year for local audiences.

Thankfully, though, we do have amazing amateur companies, mainly Basingstoke Amateur Theatrical Society (BATS) and Basingstoke Amateur Theatrical Society (BAOS), who are keeping the flame burning in The Haymarket for us.

You can see BAOS’ Hairspray in the venue from March 16-21 next year and BATS will return with Sister Act in May and Grease in November.

Huge congratulations are currently due to BATS, as their fantastic production of The Wizard of Oz sold out the theatre for six performances of its November run.

Six full Haymarket houses – I can’t think of the last time that happened! And it was all for a show which was put on by hardworking amateurs.

The atmosphere was, according to many who were there, utterly electric, and there were standing ovations aplenty for the cast, which was led by outstanding principals.

The show’s director Nick Brannam is an incredibly talented young man from Basingstoke, and most of the rest of the company live and work in the area.

As the leisure editor of the paper, I am privileged that BATS invite me to see them in action at their dress rehearsals and these evenings always provide an insight into the staging of such a show.

Their members arrive at rehearsal fresh from their families, or from their day at work, gathering all over town in spaces which they have had to hire, often at considerable expense.

I have written before of my admiration for these companies and for those who are in them. Their dedication and commitment is quite staggering, especially when you consider that it is all a voluntary enterprise.

All of those who supported the company by buying a ticket – and those who regularly support the local am dram community by attending their shows – are to be applauded for helping to sustain this vital area of the arts in the town.

Hopefully people will continue to consider that their hard-earned pounds are well spent on such productions, which can provide both a wonderful evening’s entertainment, and incredible inspiration for those talented Basingstoke youngsters who dream of taking to the stage.