Programming Policy
Our professional programme contains a mix of dance, theatre, circus, film and quality entertainment to ensure broad appeal within the local Eastleigh borough and the region.
We have a mixed model where we carefully manage the professional programme with community and commercial hires.
The programme is not funded by Arts Council England and is solely subsidised by Eastleigh Borough Council. It is divided into three seasons: Winter (September – December) Spring (January – April) Summer (June & July). Two annual festivals present opportunities to reach local audiences as well as attracting visitors into the area - Eastleigh Unwrapped in June and Eastleigh Film Festival in September.
We typically programme at least six months in advance.
The professional programme takes place in our main house (capacity 312/264) and our Studio Theatre and Creation Space (capacity 50-80). We focus on contemporary dance, contemporary theatre (with a bias towards movement based), new circus, comedy, family dance and theatre, film (live stream and accessible).
To avoid duplication with neighbouring venues and to retain distinctiveness, we do not present classic texts, musical theatre, tribute bands or variety acts in its professional programme.
Our festival programme is designed to reach out to the public and reflects the spirit of the indoor programming. One-day festival, Eastleigh Unwrapped brings thousands of visitors to Eastleigh each year and allows programming to focus on outdoor and street arts.
Our week-long Eastleigh Film Festival is an experiential and distinctive offer of presenting screenings in unusual locations around the Borough in collaboration with local businesses.
We have become widely recognised for our commitment to presenting new work in contemporary performance linked to the residency programme in the Creation Space and an world class dance strand often presented with key profile partners such as Sadler's Wells Theatre.
In the commitment to reflecting contemporary British society, we embed diversity within our programme, actively seeking out artists and companies who are working in the context of protected characteristics and attracting new audiences as a result.
Image: Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company Material Men, photography: Chris Nash
The Berry Theatre Programing Policy
The Berry Theatre seats 306 audience and the programme has a more mainstream focus - a diverse mix of family theatre, comedy, film and light entertainment.
Image: Stuff & Nonsense Theatre Company, Puppet Panto
If you are interested in being programmed, please ensure your work fits within our current remit before making contact programming@eastleigh.gov.uk with either The Point or The Berry Theatre in the subject heading. We will endeavour to respond within a month.