The Theatre Royal on New Road, Brighton celebrated its 200th birthday in 2007.

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The Theatre Royal, Brighton

A year-long series of world premieres, new productions and commissioned shows have been organised to celebrate the anniversary such as a Theatre Stories by Theatre Stars evening on January 28, when thespian tales will be narrated to an audience by writers and then broadcast on Radio Four.

There will also be a World Premiere from the Rambert Dance Company, a Theatre Royal Associate company, in February, a Children's Festival in April and two exhibitions of archive posters and photographs from the theatre's history at the Brighton Museum in May and the Royal Circle Bar in the venue in March.

Also in March will be an unveiling of a stylish new pedestrianised street inbetween the theatre, Royal Pavilion and museum which aims to emphasise the cultural quarter of the city.

The most important date of the year will be the venue's official birthday on June 27, when there will be a street party on New Road from 2pm.

This will be followed by an oral history project called 200 stories for 200 years - organised by The Argus and BBC Southern Counties Radio - which will encourage residents from around the city to share their memories about the Brighton institution.

The year-long extravaganza of celebrations will close in November with a West-end Gala Night.

The Theatre Royal has been putting on shows since 1807 starring leading stars such as Ingrid Bergman, Marlene Dietrich, Noel and Richard Burton and now intends to mark the birthday with as.

It dates back to early years of Royal Pavilion, when it was granted its royal charter by keen theatre-watcher The Prince Regent.

It opened with Charles Kemble - the most famous actor of his day - as Hamlet and became affectionately known as the actor's theatre because of the well-known stars who tended to have return again and again.

Its profile was transformed in the late 19th century when actor manager Henry Nye Chart took over followed by his enterprising widow Ellen Elizabeth Nye Chart, who made it her goal to make the venue one of the most repsected in the UK.

The venue now enters its third century as part of Ambassador Theatre Group, which has been simularily credited with improvements Chief Executive Julien Boast said:

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Chief Executive Julien Boast


"We are thrilled to mark the start of our 200th anniversary celebrations. Theatre Royal Brighton is one of the oldest working theatres in this country and the fact that we’ve survived and thrived is due to the hard work of all the people who have made a contribution here, both on stage and behind the scenes.

We have also had incredible support from audiences, both nationally and locally, who have enabled us to maintain our reputation as the leading venue on the south coast. We are looking forward to a year of celebrations, and to going from strength to strength during our third century."




  • Please email us any stories, memories or thoughts about The Theatre Royal to theatreroyal@theargus.co.uk or visit www.theargus.co.uk to see video footage about this anniversary.