Editing Guildford (section)

==Culture==
[[File:Guildford House 2020.jpg|thumb|upright|Guildford House art gallery]]
[[Guildford House|Guildford House Gallery]], in the High Street, is run by Guildford Borough Council. Its art collection includes works of Guildford and the surrounding area, and works by Guildford artists, most notably [[John Russell (English painter)|John Russell]].

{{quote box|
"''And so upon the morn early [[Sir Launcelot]] heard mass and brake his fast, and so took his leave of the queen and departed. And then he rode so much until he came to [[Astolat]], that is Guildford.''" <br />
[[Thomas Malory]] linked Guildford with the mythical "Astolat" in the [[Matter of Britain]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Malory |first1=Thomas |title=Le Morte d'Arthur |date=1485 |publisher=William Caxton |chapter=Book XIII, Chapter IX}}</ref> |align=right|width=40%}}

In Sir [[Thomas Malory]]'s 1470 version of the [[King Arthur|Arthurian]] romances, ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur]]'', Guildford is identified with [[Astolat]] of Arthurian renown.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Parry |first= Joseph D. |year= 1997 |title= Following Malory out of Arthur's world |journal= Modern Philology |volume= 95 |issue= 2 |pages= 147–169 |doi= 10.1086/392472 |jstor= 438987 |s2cid= 162379454 }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Rose|2001|pp=10–11}}</ref>{{refn|In ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur]]'', [[Elaine of Astolat|Elaine]], the "fair maid of Astolat", dies of her unrequited love for [[Lancelot|Sir Lancelot]]. Astolat is known as "Shalott" in [[The Lady of Shalott]] (first published in 1833), by [[Alfred, Lord Tennyson]].|group=note}} Continuing the Arthurian connection, there is a local [[public house]], the Astolat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/38/3880/Astolat/Guildford|title=beerintheevening.com Website: Astolat, Pub|access-date=15 February 2007|archive-date=23 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070323061920/http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/38/3880/Astolat/Guildford|url-status=live}}</ref> Guildford has been associated with the 1863 novel ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]'' because of its importance in the life of its author, [[Lewis Carroll]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://surrey.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/alice-in-wonderland-author-lewis-carrolls-surrey-links-19451// | title=Guildford and Alice in Wonderland | access-date=9 May 2012 | archive-date=1 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100801063702/http://surrey.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/alice-in-wonderland-author-lewis-carrolls-surrey-links-19451/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> There are several reminders of this connection throughout the town. Guildford Museum has a collection of items belonging to Carroll, see [[#Culture|above]]. In addition to this, sculptor Jean Argent created two full-size bronze sculptures of Alice passing through the Looking-Glass and Alice and the White Rabbit, which can be found in the [[Guildford Castle|Castle Grounds]] and by the [[River Wey]] at Millmead respectively. In ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' by [[Douglas Adams]], the character [[Ford Prefect (character)|Ford Prefect]], actually an alien from [[Betelgeuse]], claims to be an out-of-work actor from Guildford.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/how-guildford-linked-small-planet-7780811|title=Surrey's novels with Sherlock Holmes, Oliver Twist & Ford Prefect|first=David|last=Stubbings|date=24 September 2014|access-date=11 November 2014|archive-date=11 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111172525/http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/how-guildford-linked-small-planet-7780811|url-status=live}}</ref>  ''[[Crime at Guildford]]'' (1935), a novel by [[Freeman Wills Crofts]], is set in the town.<ref>{{harvnb|Reilly|1980|p=396}}</ref>

Guildford has been captured on film in ''[[Carry On Sergeant]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thewhippitinn.com/carry_on_film_locations/carry_on_sergeant// |title=The Whippit Inn |access-date=14 August 2009 |archive-date=6 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706045039/http://www.thewhippitinn.com/carry_on_film_locations/carry_on_sergeant/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref> which was filmed at the former Queens Barracks, and ''[[The Omen]]'', a scene from which was filmed at [[Guildford Cathedral]].

The town's principal commercial theatre is the [[Yvonne Arnaud Theatre]], which often shows productions after they have spent time in London's [[West End theatre|West End]]. The [[Electric Theatre]] opened in 1997 to host performances by musicians and amateur drama groups.<ref>{{cite web |title= The Electric Theatre Information |url=http://www.guildford.gov.uk/electrictheatre/article/14824/About-Us |website=www.guildford.gov.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923005525/http://www.guildford.gov.uk/GuildfordWeb/Leisure/ElectricTheatre/AboutElectricTheatre |archive-date=23 September 2009}}</ref> It also hosts regular film, family and music festivals as well as comedy, and has a Riverside Cafe Bar and Terrace.

Guildford Shakespeare Company performs in the town, using the bandstand in the castle grounds as the stage in the summer and several churches close to the High Street through the winter.

Guildford has an [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon]] cinema multiplex, which in June 2007 was the first cinema in the world to show [[Digital cinema|digital 4K]] films to the public.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/tech/0,1518,488114,00.html| title= Der Spiegel (German): Der 8 Megapixel-Filmpalast| newspaper= Der Spiegel| date= 12 June 2007| access-date= 12 June 2007| archive-date= 15 June 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070615170426/http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/tech/0,1518,488114,00.html| url-status= live| last1= Kremp| first1= Matthias}}</ref> [[Guildford Civic Hall]] was the town's main arts and entertainment venue until it closed in January 2004.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/5179892.stm|title=New £19.5m civic centre approved|work=BBC News|date=14 July 2006|access-date=20 August 2008|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122214654/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/southern_counties/5179892.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Civic Hall was replaced by a new venue, [[G Live]], which opened on the same site in September 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://glive.co.uk/online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=7A42326C-13E6-4936-A3DB-B2E168B097B4&sessionlanguage=&menu_id=308FD216-F576-4A3E-9EF1-0873B7317925|title=Your New Venue|publisher=G Live|date=20 May 2011|access-date=20 May 2011|archive-date=20 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720235713/https://glive.co.uk/online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=7A42326C-13E6-4936-A3DB-B2E168B097B4&sessionlanguage=&menu_id=308FD216-F576-4A3E-9EF1-0873B7317925|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 8 February 2012 |title= Surrey's £26m G Live arts venue opened by Duke of Kent |work= BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-16954864 |access-date= 12 July 2022 |archive-date= 24 November 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181124062246/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-16954864 |url-status= live }}</ref> In 2009 the Mill Studio in Guildford featured the English premiere of the one-woman musical, ''Estelle Bright'', starring actress/singer [[Sarah Tullamore]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2044304_never_a_dull_moment_with_estelle |title=Never a dull moment with Estelle, article in Get Surrey |access-date=23 May 2009 |archive-date=16 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216225642/http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/2044304_never_a_dull_moment_with_estelle |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra, founded as the Guildford Municipal Orchestra, received full council funding from 1945 until it was withdrawn in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abo.org.uk/Members-Directory/Full-Members/Member/?96 |title=Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra |access-date=13 November 2012 |archive-date=23 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423043307/http://abo.org.uk/Members-Directory/Full-Members/Member/?96 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.guildford.gov.uk/GuildfordPhilharmonic| title=Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908173403/http://www.guildford.gov.uk/GuildfordPhilharmonic| archive-date=8 September 2012| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-20268380 |title=Guildford Philharmonic loses council funding |date=9 November 2012 |work=BBC News |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122185208/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-20268380 |url-status=live }}</ref> The orchestra was disbanded in March 2013, with Guildford Borough Council providing a classical music grant to other organisations instead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/farewell-concert-guildford-philharmonic-orchestra-4721135|title=Farewell concert for Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra|author=James Watkins|access-date=25 November 2015|archive-date=26 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126071457/http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/farewell-concert-guildford-philharmonic-orchestra-4721135|url-status=live}}</ref>  Singer-songwriter [[Robyn Hitchcock]] has sung about the town in "No, I Don't Remember Guildford", a song from his 1999 album ''Jewels for Sophia''.

[[Stoke Park, Guildford|Stoke Park]], Guildford's largest park,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitsurrey.com/things-to-do/stoke-park-p679451|title=Stoke Park – Municipal Park in Guildford, Guildford – Visit Surrey|website=www.visitsurrey.com|access-date=30 October 2012|archive-date=31 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031050117/http://www.visitsurrey.com/things-to-do/stoke-park-p679451|url-status=live}}</ref> is the venue for the [[GuilFest]] music festival, which restarted in summer 2024 after a 10-year hiatus.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-26 |title=GuilFest: Festival to return home to Stoke Park after 10-year absence |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-67772652 |access-date=2024-09-23 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Prior to 2007, the Ambient Picnic was held in Shalford Park, by the [[River Wey]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cheekyhalf.net/agp/pr2007.html| title=COG Press Release 6 February 2007 "Ambient Picnic moves to Epsom"| access-date=13 February 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929040438/http://www.cheekyhalf.net/agp/pr2007.html| archive-date=29 September 2007| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ambientpicnic.co.uk| title=Ambient Picnic Official Website| access-date=13 February 2007| archive-date=2 February 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202004634/http://www.ambientpicnic.co.uk/| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Guildford has a model railway club, the Astolat Model Railway Circle, which meets at the National Trust's Dapdune Wharf. They host an annual model railway exhibition at the Sports Park in January.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.astolatmrc.co.uk/ | title=Astolat Model Railway Club Website | access-date=7 June 2014 | archive-date=18 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518203054/http://www.astolatmrc.co.uk/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Local media===
Radio stations [[Kane 103.7 FM]], [[Greatest Hits Radio Surrey & East Hampshire]], [[GU2 Radio]], and [[BBC Radio Surrey]] are based in Guildford.

The Surrey Advertiser is the local newspaper, a Reach plc publication, which also publishes the online Surrey Live.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk |title= Surrey Live |access-date= 25 June 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200625012127/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/ |archive-date= 25 June 2020 }}</ref> The offices are in the former [[Stoke Mill, Guildford|Stoke Mill]].<ref name="Crocker">{{cite book|editor1-last=Crocker|editor1-first=Glenys|title=A Guide to the Industrial Archeology of Surrey|date=1991|publisher=Association for Surrey Archeology|page=18}}</ref> There is also an independent "online newspaper" The Guildford Dragon NEWS which was founded in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guildford-dragon.com/ |title=The online newspaper for Guildford |publisher=The Guildford Dragon |date= |access-date=2022-03-16 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101052650/https://www.guildford-dragon.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>