York Theatre Royal

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The York Theatre Royal is a theatre in St. Leonard’s Place, York, England, which dates back to 1744. The theatre currently seats 847 people. This reduced capacity (from 863) takes into account removal of the mixing position seats and the stage side boxes which are normally not sold.

1 History
2 Pantomime
3 Notes and references
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

The York Theatre Royal was built in 1744 on, and among, the site of a medieval hospital, known as St. Leonard’s Hospital ^[1]. Parts of the old hospital can still be seen in the modern building, including archways and walls. Under the stage lies a well, which is believed to be dated from the Roman era of York's history ^[2]. The 1744 theatre repaced a theatre in Minster Yard, built by Thomas Keregan, with the encouragement of the City Corporation, in 1734. Twenty five years after its construction, in 1769, Tate Wilkinson paid £500 for a Royal Patent, and, accordingly, it was renamed the Theatre Royal. Wilkinson ran a company that included theatres in Hull, Leeds, Pontefract, Wakefield and other Yorkshire towns. His company was reckoned to be the leading provincial company, and he attracted many of the finest actors of the period, including John Philip Kemble and his sister Mrs Sarah Siddons, Mrs Jordan and Miss Farren, to act in York. Since Wilkinson's time the theatre has undergone several renovations and upgrades ^[3]. In the late 1800s the theatre was refurbished into the Victorian style, including, in 1880, a new Victorian Gothic frontage, which is decorated with carved heads representing Elizabeth I and characters from Shakespeare’s plays. The latest major redevelopment was an extensive renovation of the theatre, with a new modernist foyer (architect: Patrick Gwynne), in 1967.

[edit] Pantomime

One of the highlights of the theatre's annual programme is the pantomime, which for many years has been written and directed by Berwick Kaler, who also stars in the show. The regular returning cast, running jokes and plain old fashioned good humour keep a devoted audience returning year after year from all around the world.