Thirty Years of Shows, Stories and Community: Eastleigh's Beloved Arts Venue Is Throwing One Big Birthday Party
A local theatre that opened its doors in 1996 is still pulling crowds three decades on — and its free birthday bash this September could be the area's event of the year.
Three Decades and Still Going Strong
It opened its doors in 1996 and somehow just kept getting better. The Point in Eastleigh is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and if the milestone programme of events is anything to go by, this venue has absolutely no intention of slowing down.
For thirty years, The Point has been far more than a place to watch a show. It has been a creative home for families, young people, local artists and anyone who has ever wanted to feel part of something bigger in the borough of Eastleigh.
And the celebrations are not over yet — not by a long shot.
Thirty Events for Thirty Years
The anniversary year has been built around a simple but brilliant idea: 30 events for 30 years. The programme has brought together theatre, dance, comedy, family activities, outdoor performances and community moments that have given residents something to celebrate all year long.
Highlights have included Pop Up Unwrapped, Summer Social Friday evenings and poetry readings from a local poetry group. The Point Youth Theatre has also taken centre stage, alongside events exploring sustainability and creativity — two themes that feel very much of this moment.
It is the kind of programme that reminds you what a local arts venue can actually do when it puts its community first.
Mark Your Calendar: The Big Birthday Open Day
The headline event is still to come. On Saturday 12 September, The Point throws open its doors for a free Birthday Open Day running from 10am to 4pm — and it sounds like a proper day out.
Visitors will be able to go behind the scenes, try youth theatre and dance sessions, browse a local makers market and get crafty with hands-on activities. Sustainable businesses will also be on site, and there will be live performances on the Garden Stage.
For those wanting a sit-down show, Hoglets Theatre will perform The Tale of the Loneliest Whale in the Studio Theatre, with tickets available from just £5.
This is the kind of free community event that Eastleigh — and places like it across Hampshire — desperately need more of.
Why This Matters Beyond Eastleigh
For those of us in Cowplain and the surrounding area, The Point's story is a reminder of what community arts spaces can achieve when they are given the chance to breathe and grow.
Over three decades, the venue has welcomed generations of visitors, supported emerging local talent and given young people a genuine creative outlet through its youth theatre programme. That is not nothing — in an era when arts funding is squeezed and local venues have been shutting their doors across the country, The Point's longevity is something worth celebrating loudly.
It has been, as the venue itself puts it, a place where stories are shared, ideas are sparked and communities come together.
What Happens Next
The autumn programme at The Point continues beyond the Open Day, with the venue looking ahead to its next chapter — remaining committed, it says, to nurturing artists, inspiring young people and keeping creativity at the heart of Eastleigh. If you fancy making the trip from Cowplain this September, the Birthday Open Day on 12 September is free and open to all ages. Tickets for Hoglets Theatre's performance start from £5 and are available separately. Keep an eye on The Point's listings for full autumn programme details.
Source: The Point marks 30 Years as the cultural Heart of Eastleigh