New Theatre Royal Lincoln facts for kids

The New Theatre Royal Lincoln is a theatre in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. It's a historic building where many different shows, plays, and musical acts have been performed over the years. This theatre has been a special place for entertainment in Lincoln for a long time, bringing stories and performances to life for people of all ages.

A Look Back at the Theatre's History

The theatre you see today, first called the New Theatre Royal, was built in 1893. It was designed by two architects, Bertie Crewe and W.G.R. Sprague. This new building was needed because the previous Theatre Royal on the same spot was destroyed by a fire in 1892. That older theatre had been built in 1806, and before that, there was an even older theatre from 1764 on a street then called Butchery Street, which is now Clasketgate.

The main structure of the theatre stayed the same until 1907. That's when the front of the building, the entrance area (foyer), and the lounge were added. This change also turned the main entrance to face Clasketgate. Later, in 2010, the public areas like the foyer and bar were updated and made more modern. The building is considered a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.

The theatre's name has changed a few times! For a while, it was simply called the Theatre Royal Lincoln. But in 2016, when new people took over and updated the theatre, its name was changed back to the New Theatre Royal Lincoln.

How the Theatre Has Been Run

From 1893 to 1954, different people managed the theatre. They brought in popular plays, musicals, music hall shows (which were like variety shows), and even films. In 1954, it became a weekly repertory theatre under the Lincoln Theatre Association. This meant a group of actors would perform a different play each week. However, in 1976, the theatre faced financial difficulties and had to close down.

After that, Paul Elliot Entertainments took over, working with Chris Moreno. Under their management, the theatre started creating its own shows. It also became a place where pantomimes (fun, musical plays often performed around Christmas), national tours, and cruise-ship shows were designed and produced. It also continued to host shows by local amateur drama groups. Chris Moreno then became the only manager in 1993.

In 2009, the local government, Lincoln City Council, stopped providing money to help run the theatre. This meant the theatre was at risk of closing. Many local groups tried to take over the theatre's lease, but they weren't successful. Luckily, the theatre survived! It was taken over by ID Productions, who used it as a base for their touring shows. Today, the New Theatre Royal mostly hosts touring theatre shows and musical acts from around the UK.

Famous Visitors and Events

The New Theatre Royal has seen many interesting people and events over the years:

• During the Second World War, the theatre was very popular with RAF members stationed nearby, including the famous pilot Guy Gibson.
• The well-known actor Sir Patrick Stewart had his first professional acting role at the Theatre Royal. He played Morgan in a play called Treasure Island.
• In 2009, reality TV star Jade Goody was supposed to play the 'Wicked Witch' in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. However, she had to leave the show early because she became ill.
• On March 18, 2011, Lord Chancellor Kenneth Clarke, a senior government official, visited the theatre. He was there as part of a campaign for a public vote in May 2011 about a new way of voting called the Alternative Vote (AV) system.