The Plough Arts Centre is a

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

cinema Cinema may refer to: Film * Cinematography, the art of motion-picture photography * Film or movie, a series of still images that create the illusion of a moving image ** Film industry, the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking ...

and art gallery in Torrington, North

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devo ...

, England. The Plough is situated in a former Territorial Army drill hall on Fore Street in the centre of Torrington. The site was previously a 16th-century town house which was turned into a

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and wa ...

, The Plough Inn in 1750, giving the centre its current name. The pub was licensed until 1910 but had fallen into disrepair and was demolished in 1912. The building we see today was completed in 1913. Plough Arts Centre Torrington Auditorium

Plough Arts Centre Torrington Auditorium

The Plough was founded in 1975 and opened with a performance by Dame Edith Evans. In 1991 financial problems threatened The Plough with closure: it was saved through a merger with the nearby Beaford Arts which was established in 1966 by the

Dartington Hall Dartington Hall in Dartington, near Totnes, Devon, England, is an historic house and country estate of dating from medieval times. The group of late 14th century buildings are Grade I listed; described in Pevsner's Buildings of England as "on ...

Trust to promote and support the arts in rural north Devon. Beaford withdrew in 2002, and The Plough is now again independent and hosts theatre, cinema, music, comedy and art exhibitions. The theatre has 132 raked seats but has the capacity to expand to 240 people. In 2014 a 60-year-old 35mm celluloid Westar projector was supplemented with a digital projector and enhancements to technical capabilities at the centre, including a new box office system. The money was raised by public fundraising backed by Alistair McGowan, who is a patron of The Plough. The campaign was also boosted by the $4,500 raised at an event with

Michael Portillo Michael Denzil Xavier Portillo (; born 26 May 1953) is a British journalist, broadcaster and former politician. His broadcast series include railway documentaries such as '' Great British Railway Journeys'' and '' Great Continental Railway Jour ...

Workshops

The Plough Arts Centre runs many creative workshops for people of all ages and abilities. It is the home of the Plough Youth Theatre founded in 2010.

References

External links

The Plough Arts Centre website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plough Arts Centre Cinemas in Devon Theatres in Devon Arts centres in England Great Torrington