Honalee Media tour family shows and thrillers to around 80 theatres and arts centres across the UK each year, and those like South Mill Arts Centre are a rare breed in combining so many positives. Of the hundreds of venues we’ve visited, no others have a museum attached and we always make a point of visiting it when we come – what a bonus for us and its patrons. As is the cafe there; to have that facility for both theatregoers and the town alike, and to have it in such light, airy and pleasant surroundings is again, rare indeed. (Many I’ve been to look out onto concrete!) We’ve never used South Mill’s dance/rehearsal studio yet but it’s an impressive facility to be able to offer. Mainly though, the theatre auditorium is intimate yet spacious, booked with a terrific variety of programming and staffed by a hugely warm, welcoming and professional team, who have had a can-do attitude and gone to great lengths to provide the very best service possible when we’ve visited. I could go on (the helpful box office, Paul the technician being one of the finest we’ve met on tour), but most of all feel that, when we visit Bishop’s Stortford, that South Mill Arts Centre obviously provides a hugely valuable opportunity to the people there to visit and take part in the arts. It’s the kind of asset that creates a community not just a location, and one that would be the envy of many a town across the UK. I am sure it will be even more appreciated once the current Covid-19 closure has passed and will thrive for years to come; its loss to the town is unthinkable and would be to the detriment to the arts, heritage, culture, diversity, mental health and most of all quality of life of the community. Very much looking forward to our next visit!