The Civic, Stourport is a volunteer-run group who fought the decision to close the Civic Hall in Stourport by the local district Council in February 2011. We were offered a chance to prove that the venue was worth saving, and if so the venue would be transferred into community ownership.
We developed a programme of events and activities throughout the year to make the Civic Hall a focal point for local people and a thriving Wyre Forest venue for the arts.
In September 2013 it was announced that we had been successful in securing the future of the venue.
The Civic Group (as we are informally known) have taken a much-underused venue and transformed it into a beating heart of the community. From holding around 30 events each year The Civic Hall now hosts over 200 events each year and over 50,000 people have come through its doors during the last six years to participate in a variety of shows and events.
From Family shows such as Stickman, Tiddler, Alice in Wonderland and Rapunzel, to professional Touring Ballet productions and our monthly new material comedy nights, to community events, dance schools, public meetings, live music and the popular Monday Night Group Pantomime, The Civic has gone from strength to strength since its formation six years ago.
The Civic was invited to speak at the Theatres Trust (the UK advisory body for the theatre industry) annual conference in April 2014.