The Questors Theatre

The Questors Theatre stands in Ealing, West London. It belongs to a large theatre company that puts on about twenty productions each year. The company also hosts visiting groups and belongs to two national bodies. In 1929 seventeen amateurs and friends founded the Questors Theatre Club and set an adventurous artistic course under Alfred Emmet. Since 2005 the theatre has sold tickets to the public and runs training courses for actors. The Questors Youth Theatre offers classes for young performers. The theatre moved into a new building in 1964, opened by the Queen Mother. This adaptable theatre was one of the first thrust-stage venues in Britain. For its fiftieth anniversary in 2014 it was renamed the Judi Dench Playhouse. The site also contains a studio theatre, three rehearsal rooms, a scenery workshop and a members’ bar. The studio theatre is named after Constantin Stanislavski, and the rehearsal rooms honour Bernard Shaw, Michael Redgrave and Alfred Emmet. Visitors find a busy programme of plays and events on the main stage. The studio theatre hosts smaller productions and experimental work. Three rehearsal rooms support the company’s training and youth theatre. The members’ bar offers a place to meet before or after performances. The building occupies part of the old Mattock Lodge site, which dates from the 1850s.