ONE of Swindon’s most iconic performing arts venues celebrated its 60th anniversary this weekend.

The Arts Centre in Devizes Road rang in six decades with an open morning which allowed visitors to take a closer look at the costumes, programmes and behind the scenes.

Archive materials which included photographs, newspaper cuttings and show programmes documented the centre’s history. For kids there was cupcake decoration and a tombola.

Members of theatre companies the Western Players, Phoenix Players and the now defunct Old Town Theatre Company were also in attendance to celebrate their links to the Arts Centre.

Visitors watched a film by the Western Players which documented the company’s history at the centre followed by mini performances from the Swindon Festival of Poetry and Swindon Recital Series. The Kentwood Show Choir were also in attendance

There were also a selection of costumes for theatre lovers to try on from past Wyvern Theatre productions.

Clarry Bean, former director of 21 years at the Arts Centre, said he was delighted to celebrate the anniversary.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes here, it’s a true community venue. When I came here in 1993 it was a completely different place and needed a lot of work. In the early 2000s were refurbished and it was completely transformed," he said.

“We as a performing arts community are quite small so it’s nice to know that the Arts Centre is still very much at the forefront of the industry in Swindon. It’s an intimate setting and people can get up close and personal with the comedians and feel really included.

“I have some amazing memories of the place and the people, it has always had a truly magical atmosphere and you can see from how many people are here how much it means to Swindon.”

Mary Sherratt from Ashton Keynes was at the open morning to support the Kentwood Show Choir which she is a patron of.

“It’s amazing here being today, I just love being here because it’s the scene of so many happy memories and great performances that we have done here.

“The choir is spectacular and the Arts Centre is such a great venue for the choir to perform in.”

Swindon Arts Centre was officially opened on September 1 1956, by the Mayor, Alderman Toze and Dr Wyn Griffith, vice-chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain.

Before this there was an Arts Centre situated in the former Methodist Hall in the town centre, some ten years earlier.