Best seats in the house will be even betterwhenuniquetheatrereopens
BRITAIN’S OLDEST original theatre has taken major steps as part of its ambitious plans to modernise.
The Grade I listed Georgian Theatre Royal, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, is Britain’s most complete Georgian playhouse and the country’s oldest working theatre in its original form – and, with 154 seats, one of the smallest.
But construction work has started this week to provide more comfortable seating and improved views of the stage, while maintaining the building’s heritage and authenticity.
A lot has already happened behind the scenes, despite challenges posed by Covid- 19 restrictions – including developing prototypes of the new seating – and Richmondbased
building and construction firm Acomb Construction Ltd has now begun the process of removing the old ones in readiness for the new benches
and seats. Clare Allen, chief executive of the Georgian Theatre Royal, said: “We have spent many months in the planning of the project – poring over every detail to make sure that we achieve the best possible solution – but now this is all becoming a reality and the progress is very visible.”
She added there had been a few surprises unearthed since construction had started, including the discovery of newspapers dating from 1961 which were wedged into the void under the theatre’s tiered floorboards.
The project, made possible with a £ 375,000 donation from the Hamish Ogston Foundation, is part of the theatre’s longerterm development plan to achieve financial sustainability.
Built in 1788, it closed in 1848 and reopened in 1963. From 2002 a second extensive restoration was undertaken and the theatre reopened in September 2003.