Elizabeth Green Hall

Small-scale theatre tucked away in the Surrey Hills, Elizabeth Green Hall serves up intimate productions that feel worlds apart from London's grand venues. This local theatre draws its audience primarily from Dorking and the surrounding villages, creating that lovely community atmosphere where half the audience seems to know each other by the interval.

Productions here tend towards amateur dramatics and smaller touring companies, though the quality can be surprisingly good. The venue itself is modest - don't expect plush red velvet seats or elaborate staging. What you get instead is proper up-close theatre where you can see every expression on the actors' faces.

Families with older children who appreciate live performance will find it refreshingly accessible compared to big city theatres. Theatre enthusiasts looking for experimental or community-based work often stumble across real treats here. The acoustics are decent enough, and there's usually a decent interval tea.

For those staying at nearby spots like Surrey Hills Yurts or Merrywood Park, it makes for a pleasant evening out after a day walking the Downs. Check what's on before you travel - the programme can be hit and miss, and some productions run for just a few nights. Worth combining with dinner in Dorking if you're making a proper evening of it.