STUDIO Theatre in Ashley Road celebrated 60 years of staging plays in Salisbury by throwing a party at the weekend.

The Sparkling Sixtieth gala and dinner, which welcomed old and new members as well as faithful members of the audience, included dancing to the Rhythm Blasters and an auction run by the chairman, Peter Kelly.

Guests were also able to have their picture taken next to an original Allard car dating from the 1950s.

Director of productions Jackie Pilkington said: “We had a ball. The theatre rocked until the small hours as about 60 guests bopped until they dropped to the Rhythm Blasters, brought to the party by David Taylor, member of Studio and of the band.

“The champagne flowed, a fine supper was served, a beautifully decorated cake was cut, and old and new members swapped stories.”

Fierce competitive bidding, particularly for items signed by Ian McKellen, Alan Bennett and Honor Blackman, raised nearly £500 in the auction.

The previous evening, Studio had been presented with an award for Creative Artist of the Year by Wiltshire Life magazine at a dinner held at Marlborough Town Hall.

This season Studio Theatre has raised funds for cancer charities and The Alzheimer’s Society.

It has also enjoyed a visit from Sir Terry Pratchett, as well as having considerable success at the box office.

The next items on the agenda are Lilies on the Land - a play about the land girls during the Second World War, and Romeo and Juliet.