Why The Billings? Why now?

The Billings is the fourth and final venue at Theatre Royal Bath.

Your support now will leave a lasting legacy because a home for ambitious, inclusive community work like this has a trickle-down effect for generations. At this point, when so many have already given, every single donation brings us closer to building The Billings and our commitment to grass-roots theatre work for the long haul. A building is more than a promise, it is an invitation. 

Bath is full of creativity — but short on creative space. Research and community consultation showed:

• 58% of creatives and local community organisations surveyed in 2022 told us rated local access to training as poor
• 66% said affordable rehearsal space is scarce
• Bath & North East Somerset council and West of England Combined Authority have highlighted a lack of creative space as a barrier to growth
• Over 400 people applied to join the recent community play
• Disabled, low‑income and global majority participants face persistent barriers and struggle to find affordable space

The Billings is our answer.

The Billings offers affordable space to help level the playing field. It transforms the last unused space at Theatre Royal Bath unto an accessible, affordable, professionally supported studio theatre designed from the ground up for community creativity. Inside, we will facilitate creative learning, community partnerships and new work, supporting emerging talent and engaging over 1,500 participants and 3,000 audience members annually within the first 4 years. With inclusive design at its core, it will expand opportunities for community creativity year after year.

Head of Engagement, Janine Solomon-Gardner explains Theatre Royal Bath’s capital project: The Billings community studio

A Legacy Rooted in Bath’s Theatrical History

The Story of Beryl Billings

The Billings proudly bears the name of Margot Boyd who was born, Beryl Margot Billings (1913–2010) — an actor whose life embodied the transformative power of theatre.

Born in Bath to a family of theatre lovers, she was encouraged from childhood to perform recitals for relatives. After graduating from RADA, she built a lifelong acting career alongside many of the greats — Michael Redgrave, Vivien Leigh, James Stewart, Noël Coward, George Bernard Shaw. She became beloved nationwide as Mrs Antrobus in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers, a role she played for 20 years. On her 90th birthday, colleagues surprised her at BBC Pebble Mill with her favourite meal: eggs and chips with a whisky and soda.

In leaving the majority of her estate to create opportunities for theatrical education and access in Bath — and to support actors facing hardship — she made an incredible commitment that continues to shape Bath’s artistic life today.

The Miss Beryl Billings Charitable Trust has contributed over £1 million to make The Billings possible.

Your gift now continues the legacy she began.        

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the organisations and individuals who have supported this capital campaign: