Guide Bridge Theatre

Founded in 1940, as the Ashton and Audenshaw Repertory Theatre, after acquiring its current premises in 1972, Guide Bridge Theatre was born. Today it is an inclusive,diverse, amateur dramatic company located on Audenshaw Road in Guide Bridge,Tameside. In continuous existence for over 80 years, GBT has been in its current Audenshaw base since 1972.

Throughout the year it produces a broad range of dramatic work, both traditional and contemporary, It is also the base of community groups engaged in creative arts across all generations and abilities and hosts the longest-running group nationally for adults with mental health issues and learning disabilities. GBT also partners on creative ventures with Made by Mortals and is recognised as "a valuable community asset" by the local authority. The GBT facilities are used to support many other activities such as the popular and successful luncheon club, numerous and varied social events, community use and hires.

Our vision is to be an organisation that inspires, nurtures, educates and empowers its members and the wider community to flourish achieved by the delivery of inclusive and collaborative performance arts, opportunities for community participation and the promotion of social interaction and inclusion through community events.

GBT is run wholly by an active and growing team of volunteers and in 2020 won the prestigious Queens Award for Voluntary Service of which we are very proud.

The pandemic and resulting lockdowns forced a temporary closure but GBT used this opportunity to engage with the Prosper North project to promote a business focussed approach to our work, leading to GBT securing funding and support provided by the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund, via Key Fund, funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of the legacy of the Great Exhibition in the North. This funding together with GBT's own efforts is improving the infrastructure and facilities fit for 21st Century audience expectations.