As part of its 10th anniversary year, Guildford Shakespeare Company has launched a fundraising campaign to establish a permanent home in Guildford.
Currently, the company hires rehearsal and education spaces on an ad-hoc basis and uses four storage units scattered across Guildford.
GSC co-founder Matt Pinches said, "it's a little like having your desk across the road from your printer and your stock cupboard on the other side of town, whilst having to vacate your desk at 3:30PM because someone else needs to use it. Our own home could solve these increasingly challenging logistic issues as we continue to grow and increase our artistic output.
"To have all of this under one roof will ensure GSC can meet the strategic goal of being a valuable asset and resource for Guildford, of which its residents can be proud. Last year we created 87 jobs for artists, and engaged with nearly 18,000 people through performances and education work. However we are bursting at the seams logistically and desperately need to improve our infrastructure."
The New Beginnings campaign has a target of £76,000, raised through a new Benefactors Scheme and special fundraising events, including a 146-mile sponsored walk by Pinches tracing Shakespeare's route from Stratford-upon-Avon to the Globe Theatre. The walk will take nine days over 13 to 21 August and will be filmed for an educational documentary.
GSC receives no government or core subsidy and is still run by the two founding actor-managers, Sarah Gobran and Matt Pinches.
Actor Brian Blessed, who appeared alongside his daughter in the title role of the company's King Lear a year ago, has recently been announced as GSC's Honorary Patron, and described the company as "miraculous".