Georgian Theatre Royal

The Georgian Theatre Royal is Britain's most complete Georgian playhouse. Built by the actor-manager Samuel Butler in 1788, the theatre was in regular use until 1830 when performances became less frequent. In 1848 it was let as an auction room. In 1960 a non-profit trust was incorporated, a public appeal launched and a restoration began. The theatre reopened in 1963. It is Grade 1 Listed "as a building of special architectural or historical interest". From 2002 a second, very extensive restoration was undertaken and the theatre reopened in September 2003.

The Theatre Royal is a typical eighteenth-century country playhouse, and keeps alive an important period of English theatre architecture. It has a capacity today of 214 places and is arranged in rectangular form: sunken pit, boxes on three sides and a small gallery above. The furthest seat is only 10.7m from the stage, whose proscenium width is 4.72m with a depth of 6.4m to the back wall. Performers and theatregoers are in the closest proximity in this enchanting "courtyard theatre".

Behind the stage is an exhibition space which documents the theatre's story - it was the first theatre museum in the United Kingdom. The collection includes: documentation covering each phase of the theatre's life; engravings of artists associated with the theatre; Edward Keane's snuff box and much more.
There are guided tours of the theatre.

General Information: