Our Aims & Ojectives

The name of the Guild shall be “The Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain”. The Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain is a Charity registered in England, Registration Number 291330. The Trustees of the Charity are the members of the National Committee.

a) For the purpose of the Guild the term ‘Little Theatre’ shall be deemed to apply only to an independent, self-governing, play-producing organisation, non-commercial in character, which controls (or which has controlled and is likely again to control, viz. a Member which has lost its theatre, but which intends to re-establish itself as soon as possible) an established theatre or theatres, for the presentation of a regular programme of stage plays.

b) The term ‘Great Britain’ shall include Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands

c)  The term ‘Member’ shall mean a theatre in membership of the Guild in accordance with Rule 7.

The objects of the Guild shall be in Great Britain and elsewhere:

a) the promotion, advancement, education in and serious study of drama and the development of public taste therein;

b) for those purposes to promote closer co-operation between the Little Theatres constituting its membership;

c) to act as a coordinating and representative body on behalf of the Little Theatres;

d) generally to maintain and further the highest standards in the art of the theatre as practised by existing Little Theatres; and to advise and support Little Theatres in the areas of management and administration;

e) and to assist in and encourage the establishment of other Little Theatres.

The Guild is strictly non-political, non-sectarian and non-discriminatory.

The Guild shall not in any way interfere with or control the policy or management of any of its Members otherwise than by the tendering of advice or suggestions.

The funds of the Guild shall be applied solely to the above objects and no payments shall be made to any person or body for its services other than legitimate expenses incurred on behalf of the Guild or by way of reasonable honorarium to any elected officer of the Guild.

a) All monies received by the Guild shall be paid by the Treasurer into a Banking Account in the name of the Guild. Cheques drawn on this account shall be signed by the Treasurer and counter-signed by the Secretary or Chairman.

b) Regional Secretaries shall each be empowered to open and operate a Regional Bank Account and each such account shall have a second signatory (but not a counter-signatory) who shall be a member of the National Committee and such accounts shall be submitted for examination by the Treasurer at least once every twelve months.

a) Membership shall be confined to bona fide Little Theatres as herein defined which shall have applied therefor and election to membership shall be by a majority of the members of the Standing Committee. Little Theatres applying for membership shall supply such information as to their policy, standing and work, as may be required to enable their application to be considered.

b) If a Member of the Guild fails to be represented at three consecutive Guild Meetings without a satisfactory explanation, or introduces policies of a character which are incompatible with the Guild’s principles, the National Committee may terminate Membership, provided that the Member shall have been given the opportunity to make representations and appear before the National Committee before such a decision is made. The Member shall also have an opportunity to appeal to a panel comprising Members from theatres not represented on the National Committee.

c) A Member desiring to resign shall give not less than three months’ notice in writing signed by the Chairman and Secretary thereof (to expire on the 31st August in any year) to the National Secretary.

d) Each Member is required to purchase at least 15 copies of the Annual Report.

e) Each Member is required to provide to the Treasurer such information from their Annual Accounts as is requested by the Standing Committee.

a) In addition to full membership as defined and provided by the above Rules there shall be a class of membership known as Associate Membership.

b) Associate Membership shall be confined to an independent self-governing organisation non-commercial in character which controls an established theatre or theatres for the presentation of a regular programme of stage plays by or principally by amateur groups or societies otherwise without premises of their own in which to perform.

c) These Rules shall apply to Associate Members except that

i) The Annual Subscription for Associate Members shall be such sum as shall be determined by the Standing Committee;

ii) An Associate Member shall not be entitled to vote in a postal ballot nor shall a representative thereof vote at any General Meeting.

a) In addition to full membership as defined and provided by the above Rules there shall be a class of membership known as Associate Membership.

b) Associate Membership shall be confined to an independent self-governing organisation non-commercial in character which controls an established theatre or theatres for the presentation of a regular programme of stage plays by or principally by amateur groups or societies otherwise without premises of their own in which to perform.

c) These Rules shall apply to Associate Members except that

i) The Annual Subscription for Associate Members shall be such sum as shall be determined by the Standing Committee;

ii) An Associate Member shall not be entitled to vote in a postal ballot nor shall a representative thereof vote at any General Meeting.

a) In addition to the classes of membership as defined by the above Rules the Guild may by the unanimous vote of those present and voting at a meeting of the Guild elect to be Honorary Associate any person who in the opinion of the members has rendered outstanding services to the Guild.

b) An Honorary Associate shall be entitled to attend any Guild.

a) The annual subscription for each Member shall be such sum as the Guild at its Annual General Meeting shall determine due on the 1st of September each year or upon admission and payable by Bankers Standing Order 

b) A Member joining after the 1st March in any year shall pay half the annual subscription in respect of that year. 

c) No Member of any class shall be entitled to a refund of the whole or any part of any subscription upon its ceasing for any reason to be a Member save at the discretion of the Standing Committee. 

a) The Chairman or Secretary of each Member shall notify to the National Secretary a person to be its representative for the purpose of receiving communications from the Guild and promoting the Guild within its theatre. Such Representative shall represent the Member at meetings of the Guild and, if attending in person, shall be the voting representative at such meetings.

b) Representatives shall continue as such during the pleasure of the Little Theatre that has nominated them and on ceasing to be such Representative shall cease to participate as aforesaid.