Plymouth's Theatre Royal marks 30 years since opening
THE Theatre Royal is enjoying a standing ovation after 30 years of entertaining audiences in Plymouth.
Since the curtain first went up on May 5, 1982, famous shows and actors have been taking centre stage for three decades and continue to enchant and amaze audiences today.
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Adrian Vinken OBE, Chief Executive of the Theatre Royal Plymouth, said: "The range and quality of shows in the last 30 years is quite remarkable, and the amount that have continued to the West End and Broadway is really quite heartening.
"The problem with theatre is you're only as good as your last show so you're constantly looking forward – this celebration is a great way to look back."
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From the time the theatre was officially opened in 1982 by Princess Margaret, stars ranging from Barbara Windsor to Bill Nighy and Sir Ian McKellen to James Corden have appeared on stage in Plymouth.
The range of work presented and produced on stage includes major touring dramas and musical productions as well as shows from leading opera and dance companies.
After such success in the Theatre Royal, TR2 was opened by the Earl of Wessex in 2003 to be Europe's first purpose-built production and education centre.
The centre contains set, costume, prop-making and rehearsal facilities and since 2003 thousands of local people have taken part in community productions across the city, such as High Heels in the Rubble and Union Street, opening theatre up to all walks of life.
Mr Vinken continued: "We are well known for the musicals we produce especially as so many have started here and gone on to the West End and Broadway, but there has also been another side to our work, the large scale community projects where hundreds of members of the local community have taken part.
"They are my most memorable nights in the Theatre, where there isn't a dry eye in the house at the end."
The Drum Theatre also presents a number of interesting and thought provoking plays.
"We are very proud of our Drum Theatre and everything it represents," Mr Vinken added.
Mr Vinken moved to Plymouth in 1991 to manage the Theatre Royal at a time of financial crisis and he soon reversed the Theatre's fortunes and later helped to mastermind the construction of TR2.
He was awarded an OBE in 2007 as recognition for his innovation and successful leadership and he continues to see a bright future for the much-loved Theatre.
"I think the Theatre Royal makes Plymouth a competitive European city and it's been invested in for 30 years so it's getting better as each year goes by.
"We're busy planning to modernise and regenerate this area of the city and we'd like a third performance space and community learning programme for people to meet and perform in the city centre.
"If we do the job right it won't be just another 30 years, we'll be here for much longer than that.
"We have a great team and we've been able to maintain the very best standard on our stage.
"The team are passionate, committed and go the extra mile and that shows by the quality our audiences have come to expect.
"We are inordinately proud of the work we've been able to put on our stage over the last 30 years and we would like to thank our loyal audiences and the people of Plymouth, as well as all the support we have received from the City Council and the Arts Council.
"We couldn't have done all we have without that support so we thank them from the bottom of our hearts."
And the curtain is not ready to go down on the occasion just yet, as the Theatre celebrates its 30th birthday it would like to hear from anyone who has any special memories – whether it is seeing a favourite star on stage, being involved in one of the community productions or memories of the first visit to the theatre.
The memories will be brought together and a selection will be published on the Theatre Royal website in a project to mark the 30th year of the theatre.
THEATRE ROYAL TIMELINE
1982
HRH Princess Margaret opens the Theatre Royal
Royal Charity Gala held with Leonard Rossiter, Dickie Henderson and Gene Pitney performing
Jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald performs
1983
Eric Sykes performs alongside Matthew Kelly in Alan Ayckbourn's Time and Time Again
Warren Mitchell performs as Alf Garnett in The Thoughts Of Chairman Alf
The Three Degrees and Eartha Kitt perform
Terry Scott performs in Babes in the Wood
1984
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song & Dance performed at the Theatre Royal. This is the first Cameron Mackintosh production to come to the Theatre Royal. Stars Wayne Sleep & Marti Webb.
Roger Redfarn appointed as Artistic Director
Danny la Rue appears in Mother Goose
1982
HRH Princess Margaret opens the Theatre Royal
Royal Charity Gala held with Leonard Rossiter, Dickie Henderson and Gene Pitney performing
Jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald performs
1983
Eric Sykes performs alongside Matthew Kelly in Alan Ayckbourn's Time and Time Again
Warren Mitchell performs as Alf Garnett in The Thoughts Of Chairman Alf
The Three Degrees and Eartha Kitt perform
Terry Scott performs in Babes in the Wood
1984
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song & Dance performed at the Theatre Royal. This is the first Cameron Mackintosh production to come to the Theatre Royal. Stars Wayne Sleep & Marti Webb.
Roger Redfarn appointed as Artistic Director
Danny la Rue appears in Mother Goose
1985
Lauren Bacall stars in Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth
1986
Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington found the English Shakespeare Company, the inaugural production premieres here.
The company go on to tour across the UK and worldwide
1989
Buddy co-produced with Paul Elliott premieres at the Theatre Royal
1990
Adrian Vinken OBE appointed General Manager
Des O'Connor stars in Cinderella as Buttons
1991
Barbara Windsor stars in Guys & Dolls
High Heels in the Rubble, about the Plymouth Blitz and performed by the people of Plymouth, opened with a guest appearance from Dame Vera Lynn
Sir Ian McKellen appears in Richard III
1992
Theatre Royal takes over operation of Plymouth Pavilions
Les Dawson stars in Dick Whittington
Edward Woodward appears in A Dead Secret
1993
Act Now campaign - Arts Council funding cut threat. Over 57,000 letters of support for the theatre stuck to the theatre's windows, convoy of 20 coaches taken from Plymouth to Arts Council Head Office where opponents of the cuts sing a song from Les Miserables and hold a torchlight procession. Campaign was a success.
Brian Blessed performs his one-man show.
Bill Nighy appears in Arcadia
Rolf Harris stars alongside Bonnie Langford and Dougie Mounce in Jack and the Beanstalk. Rolf Harris paints a mural on the wall of Dressing Room 1 during the pantomime run
1994
World premiere of Copacabana with Barry Manilow in attendance. Gary Wilmot plays the lead role
Adam Faith performs in Alfie
1995
Out of the Rubble performed with over 500 people from the local community to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of VE Day
World premiere of Jolson starring Brian Conley
1996
Theatre Royal's Young Company and People's Company formed
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake performed. The first of many Matthew Bourne productions to be performed at the Theatre Royal
1997
Cameron Mackintosh's Les Miserables tour opens at the Theatre Royal
First year of a 3 year residency for the Royal Shakespeare Company in the South West - Shakespeare performed in the Theatre Royal, Drum and Pavilions
Russ Abbot starred as Captain Hook in Peter Pan
1998
Cameron Mackintosh's The Phantom of the Opera starts its UK tour at the Theatre Royal
Simon Stokes joins the Theatre Royal as Artistic Director
1999
Jason Donovan stars in The Rocky Horror Show as Frank 'n' Furter
2000
TMA voted the Theatre Royal Plymouth the Most Welcoming Theatre
Simon Callow stars in The Mystery of Charles Dickens
Hundreds of local people involved in Union Street, a story about Plymouth's most famous street created with local volunteer researchers, performers and backstage teams with the help of a professional creative team
2002
Richard Briers performs in The Tempest
The Green Man performed in the Drum Theatre with Phil Daniels and Danny Webb
2003
TR2 opens - Europe's first purpose built production and education centre opened by the Earl of Wessex on his own, contrary to the plaque in reception!
Cameron Mackintosh's UK tour of Cats begins life at TR2 with the workshops undertaking their first major set build while the company are the first to use rehearsal rooms
Theatre Royal's 21st birthday
Ross Kemp appears in The Taming of the Shrew
2004
Launch of the new touring production of Miss Saigon
Refurbishment of Theatre Royal auditorium - yellow seating replaced with blue seating
Theatre Royal voted whatsonstage.com Best Regional Theatre
2005
Philip Ridley's controversial play Mercury Fur, a Drum co-production with Paines Plough, opens starring Ben Wishaw
The History Boys with James Corden and Dominic Cooper in the cast
World premiere of Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands
2006
The controversial Jerry Springer - The Opera tour opens at the Theatre Royal
Yukio Ninagawa's Titus Andronicus performed in Japanese on the Theatre Royal stage
First UK performance of White Christmas on the Theatre Royal stage with Ken Kercheval and Lorna Luft starring alongside Craig McLachlan
2007
Drum Theatre wins The Empty Space Peter Brooke Award
2008
World premieres of the international tour of Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, Flashdance the Musical and Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray
Frantic Assembly present Othello, a co-production with the Theatre Royal and their first production to be performed on the Theatre Royal stage
Lesley Garrett appears in Carousel
2009
Alistair McGowan stars in Measure for Measure
Major new touring version of Pete Townshend's rock opera Quadrophenia opens
2010
Alison Steadman stars in Alan Bennett's Enjoy
World premiere of Lend Me A Tenor, a Theatre Royal co-production which goes on to play in the West End
Complicite's A Disappearing Number broadcast live across the world from the Theatre Royal
2011
Lovesong, a co-production with Frantic Assembly, premieres in the Drum and stars Sian Phillips
Complicite opens The Master and Margarita
2012
Cameron Mackintosh tour of The Phantom of the Opera opens at the Theatre Royal
Comments
by Lefkos
Thursday, August 30 2012, 5:47PM
“Although commendable that Plymouth's Theatre Royal has put on such shows, it does seem a little sad that a mere theatre is the only driving force in Plymouth (and only because it has substantial funds pumped into it). A wise old neighbour of mine, now sadly passed away, said that Derriford Hospital and the Theatre Royal had taken over for jobs and publicity where the Dockyard once stood. He had a point but worryingly, who really wants to go to hospital and how many people can regularly afford to go to the theatre? I rest my case.
I once went to TR2 for some theatre classes as I thought it would be a good way to spend a few hours of an evening. After 2 weeks I didn't go back. Emphasis was on special needs people and the tempermental luvvies kept pushing in with theatrical tantrums. I wouldn't put my money on that lot again. I'd rather drive down into Cornwall and sit at the Minack Theatre in the pouring rain. Its' real!”
by swoop4
Monday, May 07 2012, 3:59PM
“although I suspect the salary's nothing to get too excited about.”
by swoop4
Monday, May 07 2012, 3:53PM
“Not a bad ideal. Clear out all the old luvvies.”
by TwoTreesBob
Monday, May 07 2012, 3:39PM
“Swoop4, you continually call for the manager of the Theatre Royal to be replaced, perhaps you should put yourself forward.”
by swoop4
Monday, May 07 2012, 11:55AM
“Perhaps a new young and dynamic manager would be a step forward.”
by newplymouth
Monday, May 07 2012, 9:23AM
“@Johnny-Brant
Good point but also let's hope the new Editor of the Herald can get it away from its negative editorial agenda with a constant littany of crimes crashes and all that's bad about Plymouth. More positive coverage of who's in town like Peter Bowles would be good. Robert Powell is in town quite soon why don't they cover this. The Herald reporters IMHO could do well to camp outside the Theatre Royal sometimes rather than the Courts accross the road where they normally seem to hang out!”
by swoop4
Sunday, May 06 2012, 8:08PM
“That would require proactive management, Johnny Brant”
by Johnny_Brant
Sunday, May 06 2012, 5:50PM
“I saw Peter Bowles (To the Manor Born) strolling down New George St a few years ago and said hello; he was appearing at the Theatre Royal but I had no idea he was even in town.
Maybe the Royal should publicise its productions more by getting stars to do chaperoned walkabouts in Plymouth signing autographs and posing for photos etc.”
by newplymouth
Sunday, May 06 2012, 4:29PM
“why do Plymouth people always have to see the glass as half empty and moan so much ? Summer shows or no it's still a great place!”
by swoop4
Sunday, May 06 2012, 7:56AM
“Hurrah! Is there a show on this summer?”