The Georgian Theatre Royal – a Jewel in Richmond’s Crown

Georgian Theatre Royal Auditorium - picture courtesy of the Georgian Theatre Royal

Yorkshire is full of hidden gems and the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, North Yorkshire is no exception. Built in 1788 by Actor/Manager Samuel Butler, the Georgian Theatre is one of the UK’s oldest working theatres offering historical tours and a wide variety of shows for all ages.

10 reasons why you should visit the Georgian Theatre Royal

1. The Georgian Theatre Royal has gone through two major restorations in its time. After falling into disuse in 1848, its primary use became that of a wine cellar. In 1960 Richard Southern began his restoration of the building and it re-opened in 1963. A Grade 1 listed building, it went through a second restoration in 2003 which included paint scrapings of the original paintwork so that the theatre could be painted in the exact colour that it was when it first opened. The restoration also featured a new extension of the building putting in two bars and a lift making the building accessible to all.

2. The Georgian Theatre offers tours of the building that run Monday – Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Lasting between 35-40 minutes a volunteer tour guide will take you back to 1788 showing you everything from the original paintwork and kicking boards, to the machine room with its working traps, as well as the opportunity to stand on the stage itself! Group Tours of 10 or more people can be booked in advance by calling 01748 823710.

Georgian Theatre Royal Exterior - photo courtesy of the Georgian Theatre Royal

3. It’s not just about the history of the building. The Georgian Theatre is a fully working Theatre with a wide range of shows on every season so there is always something that everyone will enjoy. Upcoming shows include The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark, Mark Steel and Some Enchanted Evening . For more details about upcoming performances you can contact the Georgian Theatre Box Office on 01748 825252.

4. The Georgian Theatre houses Britain’s oldest Scenery; The Woodland Scene, which is estimated to have been painted between 1818 and 1836, and can be seen in the museum attached to the Theatre. A replica of the The Woodland Scene has been made that can be used for performances in the space and is in place during the theatre’s museum week.

5. As well as the Theatre building itself the Georgian Theatre houses a museum where you can see some of the original 19^th century playbills, the Woodland Scenery and have a go at operating some of the special effects that would have been used on the Georgian Theatre stage. There are also costumes for kids to try on and a gift shop!

6. Every August, for one week only, the Theatre is transformed with the help of the volunteers back in time to 1788. Visitors can go on guided tours with an authentically dressed Georgian and see how the building would have looked like centuries ago. The normal box Office Entrance is closed with visitors entering through the original pay box.

7. Ever fancied having somewhere truly unique for your wedding? The Georgian Theatre Royal is licensed for Civil Marriages and Services giving you the chance to be married on stage with the replica Woodland Scenery. With 2 fully licensed bars in the building there is no excuse not to have a champagne reception afterwards!

The Georgian Theatre Royal's stage viewed from the pit - photo courtesy of the Georgian Theatre Royal

8. Every Christmas the Georgian Theatre Royal puts on its own in-house panto! Perfect for all ages it’s a true December treat! Last year’s show The Adventures of Sinbad had local knitters in an absolute frenzy in the run up to the show as they knitted 1000 bananas for the run! This year’s show will be Babes in the Wood, certain to be just as successful as previous years!

9. We are extremely lucky to house one of the largest collections of Theatre Archive memorabilia in the country; there are big plans afoot to make this available for everybody, so watch this space!

10. The final thing that makes the Georgian Theatre Unique is the team behind the scenes. There are around 120 volunteers that are committed to giving up their time to help run all aspects of the Theatre. The Volunteers are amongst the most knowledgeable about the building and when you go on a tour with one of them you are guaranteed to learn something you never knew!

The Georgian Theatre Royal has a varied programme of events, appealing to one and all from kids upwards. You can download their spring brochure here. Forthcoming treats include: