Theatre Royal, Brighton
 Panoramic view of the theatre from stage. | |
| Address |
New Road Brighton England |
|---|---|
| Owner | Ambassador Theatre Group |
| Designation | Grade II listed |
| Type | Proscenium |
| Capacity | 952 (4 levels) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1807 |
| Rebuilt | 1854 |
| Years active | 205 |
The Theatre Royal, Brighton is a theatre in Brighton, England presenting a range of West End and touring musicals and plays, along with performances of opera and ballet. In recent years, catering to a wider demographic, The Theatre Royal Brighton has chosen to offer an alternative to a Christmas pantomime, which it historically performed, replacing the such shows with hits such as Spamalot (2011), The Rocky Horror Show (2012), and Priscilla Queen of the Desert (2013). It also regularly hosts performances during the city's annual Brighton Festival: in 2016 these included the world premiere of a play written and directed by Neil Bartlett, Stella, and the world premiere of The Complete Deaths (a play featuring all of the onstage deaths in the works of William Shakespeare) by the comedy group Spymonkey and Tim Crouch.
History
In 1806 the Prince of Wales (later George IV) gave Royal Assent for the theatre to be built and it opened on 27 June 1807, with a performance of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. It struggled until the theatre was purchased in 1854 by actor Henry John Nye Chart, who engaged theatre architect Charles J. Phipps to begin a programme of expansion and redevelopment.
The theatre improved its reputation and finances, becoming a respected venue. When Henry John Nye Chart died in 1876 his wife took over and continued the success as one of the first female theatre managers.
The venue used to have a 'gulp bar', a backstage bar where actors could get a drink, even mid-performance.
Present
Since 1999 the theatre has been owned by the Ambassador Theatre Group. In 2007 the theatre celebrated its 200th anniversary with a visit from Queen Elizabeth II. The venue offers backstage tours, where the public can go behind the scenes at this grade II listed building.
External links
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Coordinates: 50°49′24″N 0°08′22″W / 50.82333°N 0.13944°W
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