Theatre Royal, Plymouth
The Theatre Royal in Plymouth stands as a prominent cultural venue in the heart of Devon, drawing audiences with its diverse offerings and architectural significance. This multifaceted complex includes The Lyric, a 1,300-seat main auditorium that regularly hosts major musicals, opera, and ballet performances, The Drum, a 200-seat studio for intimate productions, and The Lab, a 50-seat studio and community performance space. Adding to this vibrant scene, the Theatre Royal also operates the TR2 production and learning center, where rehearsal studios and workshops support set and costume creation.
Rooted in history, Plymouth’s association with the Theatre Royal dates back to 1789 when King George III’s visit prompted the original theatre in Frankfort-Gate to adopt its royal title. The current building was designed by the Peter Moro Partnership in 1977 and opened officially in 1982 by Princess Margaret. Characterized by its brutalist architecture—a rare style in Plymouth—the Theatre Royal's design has earned acclaim, drawing comparisons to the work of architect Denys Lasdun.
The venue’s evolution reflects shifts in public entertainment preferences: the original Theatre Royal suffered from declining attendance due to cinema’s rise, leading to its 1937 demolition. The new Royal Cinema that took its place later transformed back into a theatre-cinema hybrid, eventually closing as the Reel Plymouth Cinema in 2019.
Today, Theatre Royal Plymouth is a celebrated National Portfolio Organisation with Arts Council England support, having undergone a significant renovation in 2013. Adding a dramatic focal point, the theatre’s entrance now boasts Messenger, a 7-meter bronze sculpture of a crouching female actor, symbolizing the dynamism and expressive power of theatre.
Rooted in history, Plymouth’s association with the Theatre Royal dates back to 1789 when King George III’s visit prompted the original theatre in Frankfort-Gate to adopt its royal title. The current building was designed by the Peter Moro Partnership in 1977 and opened officially in 1982 by Princess Margaret. Characterized by its brutalist architecture—a rare style in Plymouth—the Theatre Royal's design has earned acclaim, drawing comparisons to the work of architect Denys Lasdun.
The venue’s evolution reflects shifts in public entertainment preferences: the original Theatre Royal suffered from declining attendance due to cinema’s rise, leading to its 1937 demolition. The new Royal Cinema that took its place later transformed back into a theatre-cinema hybrid, eventually closing as the Reel Plymouth Cinema in 2019.
Today, Theatre Royal Plymouth is a celebrated National Portfolio Organisation with Arts Council England support, having undergone a significant renovation in 2013. Adding a dramatic focal point, the theatre’s entrance now boasts Messenger, a 7-meter bronze sculpture of a crouching female actor, symbolizing the dynamism and expressive power of theatre.
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Theatre Royal on Map
Sight Name: Theatre Royal
Sight Location: Plymouth, England (See walking tours in Plymouth)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Plymouth, England (See walking tours in Plymouth)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Plymouth, England
Create Your Own Walk in Plymouth
Creating your own self-guided walk in Plymouth is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Plymouth Introduction Walking Tour
Plymouth's early history began in the Bronze Age when the first settlement emerged at Mount Batten. It is mentioned in Ptolemy's Geographia as a maritime outpost exporting bronze mirrors.
The settlement was a major port in the southwest of England in Roman times. It was surpassed as a port in the ninth century by the nearby wealthier village of Sutton, later called Plymouth.
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
The settlement was a major port in the southwest of England in Roman times. It was surpassed as a port in the ninth century by the nearby wealthier village of Sutton, later called Plymouth.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Plymouth Hoe Walking Tour
Plymouth Hoe, referred to locally as the Hoe, is a large south-facing open public space in Plymouth with commanding views of Plymouth Sound, Drake's Island, and further afield into Cornwall. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon word hoh, which means a sloping ridge shaped like an inverted foot and heel.
This part of town has always been a meeting place, where people would come regularly... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles
This part of town has always been a meeting place, where people would come regularly... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles
Pilgrim Fathers Trail
Back in the early 17th century, a group of English Puritans – nowadays reverently referred to as the Pilgrim Fathers – fled religious persecution in their homeland and established a colony in North America that later became known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Pilgrims embarked on their perilous journey across the Atlantic from Plymouth, England in 1620 aboard a ship called the Mayflower,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.5 Km or 0.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.5 Km or 0.3 Miles