The opening of a new theatre is always an exciting event and the gala performance of music, dance and drama, which celebrated the new Varley Theatre at Peter Symonds' College, Winchester, was no exception.

It showed the high standards the students attain during the A-level courses.

The theatre was declared open by comedy scriptwriter, John Morton. Before his success with the BBC television series, Kiss me Kate, and People Like Us and the Radio 4 programme, Sunday Format, John taught English at the college.

"I arrived in 1980, left in 1990, came back part-time when I needed to pay the mortgage and finally left in 1996," he explained.

John recalled appearing in the staff and student pantomime in a Fred Astaire dance number and hitting the trombonist on the head with his cane.

"People here have what I call 'the Symonds' quality' - commitment, intelligence, kindness and humour."

He was accompanied by his wife, Helen Atkinson-Wood, who appeared as Mrs Miggins who kept the pie shop in Blackadder; in Radioactive, and many other comedy shows.

The £237,00 conversion provides the Performing Arts Department with a 200-seat theatre with high-specification sound, light and video projection equipment.

There is also an adjoining green room, a dance studio, dressing room, costume space and scenery dock. In the foyer, art students had mounted an impressive display of their work.

There are great plans for Varley. In January, the BBC Radio 4 programme, Any Questions, will be hosted by the college. Later in the term, the music department and the specialist Hampshire Music Course students will take advantage of the excellent acoustics.

Performance arts students are working on their original musical, The Ballad of Joe Dumper, for a spring premire and a slot has been found for the popular staff and student college pantomime.

"Peter Symonds' has a long and distinguished record of work in the expressive arts," said Alan Duffield, the head of performing arts.