STUDIO Theatre toasted the roof over its head last week, at a topping-out ceremony to mark completion of the first stage of building its new home.

Studio's president, singing star Rosemary Squires, and Mayor of Salisbury Bobbie Chettleburgh were there to hoist a ceremonial wreath to the rafters, as Salisbury district councillor and South West Regional Arts Council board member John Cole-Morgan quoted from a recent Studio production.

"Do not be frightened: be impressed," he said.

"Salisbury is very lucky to have such a wonderful artistic resource.

"Studio Theatre is an asset of which Salisbury can be justly proud and we must do everything we can to foster it.

"There are big financial challenges ahead but I am sure they will be overcome with the same determination that has brought them so far."

The amateur drama group said it was now financially two-thirds of the way to realising the dream of having its own £300,000 theatre premises in Ashley Road.

Finance to complete the interior of the building has still to be raised but, when finished, the theatre will have a large foyer, a 100-seat auditorium, wardrobe and workshop space, dressing-rooms and storage space for props and scenery.

Plans for the theatre were set in motion eight years ago when the wooden building, formerly ATC huts, purchased by the club in 1984, reached the point of collapse.

Despite frustrations and setbacks, building got under way last February, backed by a 99-year land lease from Salisbury district council and £100,000 funding, principally from SDC, the Foundation for Sports and the Arts, and the Southern Arts Lottery Fund, together with £100,000 raised by the club's own efforts.

Derek Jones, chairman of Studio's building committee, pointed out that it had taken Sam Wanamaker more than 40 years to build Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London.

"I'm not sure what moral one should take from that, other than that dreams come true if you persist long enough," he said.

Rosemary Squires said she was full of admiration for the hard work that had brought the drama group to this point.

"I'm looking forward to seeing a show here and possibly putting on one of my own to raise funds," she said.

Studio Theatre chairman Hugh Abel said: "We must still raise another £80,000 to complete and equip the theatre, but the topping-out represents a great landmark that will spur us on to the final target."