A guide to York Theatre Royal

The Theatre Royal, York (UK) has hosted a variety of high class performances from drama to dance since its opening in 1744. It has a variety of performance spots as well as room for conferences or seminars. For tourists, locals or business people, the theatre is available to every demographic.

Past

History
The York Theatre Royal was founded in 1744 and was built upon the site of a medieval hospital called St. Leonard's. However, it did not become the Theatre Royal until 1769, after it received its first royal patent.
Over the 1800s, the theatre was slowly renovated, adding stage blocks and the likes to make it appear more professional.
New elements added
It was only in 1967 that the theatre went through a complete make over. In 1967, the theatre was largely modernised, with innovative elements such as glass foyers and flying mechanisms backstage.
The filling capacity also increased from 550 to 889. Computerised lighting was only added in 1984. 'Friends of York Theatre Royal'
The 'Friends of York Theatre Royal' group was founded in 1959, and has continued to grow strongly ever since. It supported charitable initiatives such as raising £10000 towards a new audio system for those who have impaired hearing.

Present

The modern day Theatre Royal has four primary spaces available both for drama performances and for private functions. The Keregan Room
The Keregan Room is a refurbished medieval room from the twelfth century. This room is primarily used for boardroom meetings and it can accommodate up to 40 people.
It has also been used for pre-performance events. The Main Auditorium
The main auditorium is only available for private hire, depending on the theatre's programme. This theatre can hold 887 people and has state of the art lighting and sound systems.
The main auditorium is also said to have a ghost residing inside it, with both staff and visitors claiming to have had supernatural experiences. The Studio
This room holds up to one hundred people and is primarily used for work shops or seminars. The studio boasts of professional sound and lighting equipment and it can only be booked based upon the theatre's programme. The De Grey Rooms
The final venue, the De Grey rooms, holds the theatre's cocktail bar and ball room. This is also available for private hire, but has no wheelchair access. Café Bar
Finally, the adjoining café bar is open for lunch or pre-performance meals. Lunch may cost around £5 and it usually consists of baked potatoes, sandwiches, salads as well as a variety of drinks.