York Theatre Royal facts for kids
Front Facade of York's Theatre Royal, June 2022
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| Address | St Leonard's Place |
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| Location | York, England |
| Coordinates | 53°57′43″N 1°05′07″W / 53.9620°N 1.0853°W |
| Owner | York Citizens' Theatre Trust |
| Designation | Grade II* listed |
| Type | Theatre |
| Capacity | 750 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1744 |
| Renovated | 2016 |
| Expanded | 1879, 1967 |
| Architect | George Styan (1879), FA Tugwell (1902), Patrick Gwynne and RA Sefton (1967) |
The York Theatre Royal is a famous theatre located in St Leonard's Place, York, England. It has a long history, dating all the way back to 1744. Today, the theatre can seat about 750 people.
While it's usually a traditional stage theatre, it was changed in 2011 to have performances "in-the-round." This means the audience sits all around the stage. The theatre creates many of its own shows. It also welcomes touring groups, like Pilot Theatre, who often work together with the theatre. Local drama and opera groups also use the main stage and studio regularly. In 2012, York Theatre Royal helped produce the special York Mystery Plays. These plays were performed in York Museum Gardens. The theatre had a big £6 million upgrade and reopened in April 2016. This included a new roof, a bigger entrance area, and better access for everyone.
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History of York Theatre Royal
The York Theatre Royal was built in 1744. It stands on the site of an old medieval hospital called St. Leonard's Hospital. You can still see parts of the old hospital, like archways and walls, within the modern theatre building. There's even a well under the stage that people think dates back to the Roman times in York!
Before this theatre, there was another one built in 1734 by Thomas Keregan. In 1769, a man named Tate Wilkinson bought a special Royal Patent for £500. This meant the theatre could be called the Theatre Royal. Wilkinson ran a theatre company that performed in many towns across Yorkshire. His company was considered the best outside of London. He brought many famous actors of his time to York. These included John Philip Kemble, his sister Sarah Siddons, Dorothea Jordan, and Elizabeth Farren.
Changes and Upgrades Over Time
Since Tate Wilkinson's time, the theatre has been updated many times. In the late 1800s, it was changed to look like a Victorian building. In 1879, a new front was added in the Gothic Revival style. This front is decorated with carved heads of Elizabeth I and characters from Shakespeare's plays. In 1902, architect F. A. Tugwell redesigned the inside of the theatre.
The most recent major update was in 1967. This included a new, modern-style entrance area, designed by Patrick Gwynne.
The theatre is a very important building. Historic England has given it a special status as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's protected because of its historical and architectural importance.
Theatre During Challenging Times
The theatre had to close its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was closed from March 2020 to May 2022. During this time, the theatre staff helped out in different ways. They made medical scrubs for the NHS. They also created a small outdoor theatre next to the building. They even performed a 'Travelling Pantomime' in 14 different areas around the city! The theatre finally reopened on May 17, 2022, with a series of love stories called 'The Love Season.'
In 2022, the theatre welcomed the Kyiv City Ballet from Ukraine. This was their first time performing in the UK. Their performances helped raise money for UNICEF to support their work in Ukraine.
Pantomime Fun
The York Theatre Royal put on its very first pantomime show in 1862. It was a production of The Sleeping Beauty.
For over 30 years, the theatre's yearly pantomime was written and directed by Berwick Kaler. He also starred in the show, often playing the funny 'Dame' character. Berwick Kaler stopped playing the Dame in 2019. The theatre decided to try a new style for its 2020 pantomime. It was a 'reboot' with a new writer and director.
In December 2020, because of the pandemic, the theatre performed 'The Travelling Pantomime.' This was a smaller show that toured to 14 different neighborhoods in York.
