TFT is a well respected community theatre company. It is the largest producing theatre in Europe.

Producing over 30 shows per annum in house. It is a not for profit charity and attracts a broad age range to its membership and audience figures. It has a full constitution allowing its members to choose its officers. TFT do not charge a fee to join like other community groups and is solely funded through their own box office receipts and commercial activity. Current active membership is over 400 with an audience mailing list of over 4000. The company employs professional Directors for its productions and owns its own technical equipment, seating, wardrobe and properties. The company does not rely on sponsorship, grants (either national or local) or donations to ensure it continues its activities. Enshrined within the Objects of it’s Constitution TFT has the following wording.

C Objects.

a) The advancement of the arts, in particular the dramatic and performing arts, and the development of public appreciation of such arts by the provision of a theatre and facilities for the presentation of public performances

b) To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Titchfield and the neighbourhood together defined by Fareham Borough Council (hereinafter called "the area of benefit") without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions, by associating together the said inhabitants and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants;

c) To advance public education in the arts, including the theory that William Shakespeare lived and worked in Southern Hampshire.

Bearing the above in mind it becomes apparent that for TFT to be situated anywhere else other than Titchfield defeats the company’s Objects. Shakespeare is now so closely associated with Titchfield that the Festival Theatre is becoming almost part of everyday life much the same as the Festival Theatre at Stratford was in its early beginnings before it became the Royal Shakespeare Company. 

TFT was set up in 2001 to perform plays in Titchfield Abbey. This Ancient monument was controlled by a local group which leased the area each summer to the company. The Company built up a considerable following achieving some 7-8,000 people coming through the site per season ( early June – end August) Eventually in 2006 English Heritage took the site back into their portfolio and imposed a very large rental figure for the company to use the site. This was clearly not going to be viable since the site had been rented on a much lower rent to the company. The company then approached Portsmouth Football Club (PFC) who had acquired The Great Barn on an adjacent site. The Great Barn makes an ideal covered theatre space although little if no amenities were available. Portsmouth Football Club agreed to this as part of their community outreach programme and part of their plan to ‘woo’ the local community to aid them in obtaining planning permission for their new Football Academy. TFT had a very successful year at the Great Barn and produced several productions at the site. The company also renewed some of the electrics and engaged in dialogue with English Heritage (Richard Massey) and Fareham Borough Council (FBC, Mike Maude Roxby) about putting planning permission forward to allow the site permanently to be used as a theatre site. Planning Permission was submitted with the initial blessing of PFC and this was agreed by FBC with some restrictions. PFC unfortunately was not given permission to use the land for their new training academy and all permissions to use the Great Barn were regretfully withdrawn. TFT then successfully operated from a grade 2 listed Thatched Barn in nearby Warsash. 12 productions per annum were produced and this gave a regular income. The Thatched Barn Theatre had a capacity of 90 and besides the barn TFT also rented a cowshed and storage space in total some 2405 sq ft. The lease however was withdrawn in August 2010 due to security and insurance reasons on the site. 

At this point TFT then became homeless with a full season of plays already planned and in rehearsal. The need to quickly find an effective theatre space was paramount.

TFT began negotiations with the owners of the Great Barn in Titchfield since this had once again been put on the market and after some considerable negotiation it was agreed that TFT could lease the barn for 5 years.However this was subject to ratification by the owners of the barn. The owners then decided to break off negotiations and withdrew the barn for rent.

TFT were at this point homeless and needed to secure a new home preferably in the Borough of Fareham and in particular Titchfield. TFT then secured a 10 year lease on 73 St Margarets Lane and were granted a premise licence and then managed to obtain Change of Use from FBC for the warehouse to be turned into a theatre and store, room along with rehearsal space and community facilities The unit which is some 15663 sq ft has two large roller doors to its south elevation and is divided into two units each of about equal size- Unit 73 A and 73B.

Unit A would be changed to Leisure D2 use and used as the basis for a new 200 seat theatre, rehearsal space etc all of which would be installed within the new unit A. Much of the existing building can be utilised without disturbance to neighbours, roadways and services. Considerable work needs to be undertaken to ensure all existing and new access and exits were fit for disabled and wheelchair users. The main source for heat in the winter months wass an obsolete hot air heater run on mains gas which was expensive and totally in efficient. 

In 2012 the Company managed to secure a 99 year lease on The Great barn and installed a 175 seat theatre in this magnificent building.15th C building. The company obtained planning permission and licences to not only hold plays but also use the building as an educational centre, an events centre ( for charitable events, weddings etc) and hold Arts and craft fairs at this venue.

The company then produced an eclectic mix of up to 16 plays a year (including 4 Shakespeare plays, in their Shakespeare Festival now revived from the old Abbey days), commissions new plays, adaptations and translations. Audience numbers have grown as has the membership of the Company.