Forest Arts Centre — Attraction in New Forest

I was lucky to recently visit the Forest Arts Centre with the New Forest Mencap Group where we had such a welcoming, educational and fun experience. We were given opportunities to do artwork, some of which will be put up on display, some had the chance to do a fun array of acting and dance activities on the stage and some were even given the chance to go behind the scenes in the Sound and Lighting Control Room where we got to even control and change the lighting effects on the stage. Everyone at the centre were wonderful and I personally learnt a lot. It's a fairly small but by no means lacking theatre seating well over a hundred people and put on a huge variety of shows, from music, comedy to dramas and pantomimes and is a great centre for it's location and...

Wonderful music and arts centre. Great folkie gigs. Lovely staff and crewand excellent manager in John. Punches above it's weight despite severe cutbacks. I don't believe Hampshire Cultural Trust board really understand the arts centre business or this venue's unique audience / demographic which is a shame. It is unique but now bundled in with other venues. And sadly the brilliant director is leaving and the directors of its sister venues in Fleet and Fareham have jumped ship in the past year. All is not well. Problem when Councils' pass the buck to save...

The seating in the auditorium is not conducive to seeing a play. One third of it was blocked by two tall people sat in front of me. Even after moving, I still couldn't see properly and I'm not a short woman at 5' 7". Either a steeper rake is required or offset seating so that you are not directly behind the person in front. To make matters worse the usher who I hoped would help me identify a spare seat in the interval, was more interested in making a joke about it than helping me. Very...