Woolstore Theatre

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Woolstore Theatre is a small theatre in Codford, Wiltshire, England. The building began as a wool store and became Codford Empire Cinema around 1906, showing films for Australian troops in World War I, then turned into the village hall after the war. In 1928, Colonel Ralph Sneyd converted the Woolstore into a theatre for his wife Stella, who enjoyed acting. Stella formed the Codford Amateurs, whose first play at the Woolstore was in 1928. By 1938 the group did well, finishing fourth in a national contest. The theatre was used by the military during World War II and reopened in 1948. Sneyd died in 1949; his wife moved away, but the theatre group continued until 1955. In the early 1950s, the Woolstore County Theatre Club started, and in 1964 it merged with the Codford Amateurs. The theatre was bought by benefactors for the theatre club. In 2000, Karen Johnstone received an MBE for services to the community, particularly the Woolstore Theatre. The venue has a capacity of 107.