DAME Judi Dench says she is delighted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Questors Theatre in Ealing by agreeing it will be renamed the Judi Dench Playhouse. She is currently president of the theatre company.

The Questors is one of the UK's largest non-professional theatre companies, founded in 1929.

It is holding a gala celebration on Saturday, October 18, to mark the 50th year and to inaugurate its new name.

The Playhouse at The Questors Theatre opened in 1964 with a production of Ibsen's Brand in the presence of the Queen Mother.

The building is regarded as the first purpose-built theatre to be designed in Britain after World War Two.

The Playhouse set a new benchmark for flexible staging by breaking the old 'picture frame' theatre format with a bold amphitheatre shape.

The project was acclaimed by Alec Guinness at the time as the most exciting theatrical venture to be launched in the country.

More than 600 productions have since been staged in the Playhouse, which, depending on configuration, seats between 300 and 400.

Dame Judi, who next year will be celebrating 30 years as president, said: "The building is a landmark of theatre architecture, built by this remarkable company.

“I send congratulations to you all for the golden jubilee celebrations and on the continued success of the company.

“I am absolutely thrilled and very flattered to add my name in celebration of this achievement, and I have very fond memories of [performing] there."

Michael Langridge, who is directing the celebration, and was in the opening production of Brand, said: "The gala evening will feature scenes from memorable Questors productions over the last 50 years, and feature a number of writers with strong associations with the company.

“These include Peter Whelan, a long-standing member of our theatre, who sadly died earlier this year, Michael Green, the well-known humorist behind Coarse Acting, and James Saunders, who premiered Next Time I'll Sing to You at The Questors."

Tickets for the gala evening are £20 and available from questors.org.uk