The Next Stage Theatre Company is a non-professional theatre company located in Bath, and as the artistic director, Ann Ellison says, it’s “a group of people who are passionate about theatre and performance”, that put on many shows at The Mission Theatre. 

Next Stage is an amateur theatre company, who “have a reputation to deliver to a professional standard”. It was founded in 1994, by Ann and her now-husband Andrew, who converted a derelict chapel (The People’s Mission) into the current theatre where The Next Stage Theatre Company perform: The Mission Theatre. Ann Ellison chose this venue, which is located along Corn Street in Bath, because she wanted to direct in the round (with the audience on all 4 sides), and as soon as they walked in they “knew [they] had found [their] home”. From 2005 and onwards, many shows have taken place there!

As well as the Next Stage Theatre Company for adults, there is also a youth initiative, called Next Stage Youth. It is for 11-18 year olds, and its purpose, as Ann describes, is to “empower young people, it doesn’t matter the level of experience or ability”, but Ann wants young people to find “friendships, a slot for their skills, so every young person that goes on stage and performs develops confidence and life skills” and it doesn’t matter if they are interested in a career professionally, but Ann believes youth drama groups can help give young people the confidence they need.

Along with Next Stage Youth, the ‘Come You Giants’ bursary was also founded by The Next Stage Theatre Company, to provide grants to young people to fund academic or extra-curricular activities in theatre. Ann believes it is important because she wants " theatre and accessibility to training to be available to any young people, whatever their background or income” and let young people to “have the chance” to pursue their passions in further training. To ensure this happens, they have helped fund grants from £100-£1000. Bursaries like this do have an impact on young people, to let them grow into the actors that they may aspire to be.

Coming up soon, The Next Stage Theatre company are performing a run of showings of ‘The Price by Arthur Miller’, from the 20th-23rd March. Tickets can be bought on The Next Stage website, and Ann Ellison urges anyone to come along who is a “theatre-lover or interested in some of the best amateur theatre in Bath and the country, to see work in the round, amazing actors and understand why, for 30 years, Next Stage has been earning its reputation”.