Walton Firs Theatre

Walton Firs Theatre is a creative performance space based at the Walton Firs Activity Centre — part of a much larger site with a rich history of community and youth engagement.

Originally Walton Firs was a private golf club in the 1930s before being acquired by The Scout Association in 1939 and opened as a residential activity centre for young people. Lady Baden-Powell, wife of Scouting’s founder, planted an oak tree to mark its opening during World War II. For more than half a century, the site hosted outdoor activities and residential programmes for Scouts and youth groups, gradually expanding with adventure facilities including climbing, archery and high ropes. In 2008, the Walton Firs Foundation — a charity established by local supporters — purchased the property to secure its long-term future and broaden its educational and community use.

Within this historic setting, Walton Firs Theatre has emerged in recent years as a vibrant space for live performance and community arts. The theatre presents seasonal productions, large-scale family entertainment and performance workshops, bringing together local talent alongside experienced creative professionals.

The theatre was founded by Natasha Mould and Robert Chesters, whose combined vision has shaped its identity and growth. Natasha Mould, a UK-based musical theatre performer, director and choreographer with extensive West End and professional touring experience, leads the artistic direction of the theatre and its associated training programmes. She also founded and directs Fit The Mould Camp on the Walton Firs site, creating high-level training opportunities for young performers and producing family productions such as Santa’s Toy Box.

Robert Chesters brings a distinctive and deeply compassionate perspective to the organisation. By day, he works in Teenage and Young Adult Oncology at The Royal Marsden, supporting young people and their families through some of the most challenging periods of their lives. Alongside his full-time NHS role, Robert co-founded Walton Firs Theatre and co-runs both the theatre and Fit The Mould Camp. His work behind the scenes encompasses strategic planning, operational management, safeguarding, pastoral care and the overall wellbeing of the young people involved in productions and camps.

Robert’s professional experience within healthcare strongly informs the ethos of Walton Firs Theatre — ensuring that creativity is paired with care, structure and a strong sense of community responsibility. His dual career reflects a commitment not only to artistic opportunity, but to creating safe, inclusive and nurturing environments where young people can grow in confidence both on and off the stage.

Together, Natasha and Robert have transformed Walton Firs Theatre from a performance venue within a long-standing outdoor education centre into a thriving creative hub where community, youth development and theatrical excellence meet — offering productions, training and experiences that blend professional standards with heart, purpose and genuine impact.