Right in front of you, the Theatre Royal Plymouth stands with a bold, modern look-its flat, concrete façade and big glass-fronted foyer are topped by a glowing TRP sign that you really can’t miss against the evening sky.
Now, let’s step into the limelight-welcome to the most dramatic stop on our tour! Imagine the electric excitement as you approach this cultural powerhouse. You might spot people bustling toward the entrance, laughter and chatter floating on the evening air, and in front, a gigantic 7-metre bronze sculpture called Messenger-she’s crouching, ready to leap into the world of theatre just as every actor has done here for centuries. If you listen closely enough, you just might hear the ghostly whispers of past actors reciting their lines from backstage (don’t worry, they don’t bite-unless it’s a particularly bad review).
The Theatre Royal as you see it is actually just the latest act in a long theatrical saga stretching back to 1758, when Plymouth’s very first theatre opened. Back then, the top of George Street rang out with the sounds of drama, applause, and perhaps the occasional rowdy tomato toss (we don’t recommend trying that here). When King George III visited in 1789, the theatre earned a fancy new title: Theatre Royal. And when the city wanted something even grander in 1810, they held a competition for a new design-John Foulston, the superstar architect, won with his imposing neo-classical vision. Imagine a frontage stretching 268 feet, topped by colossal Ionic columns-Foulston’s creation was so fireproof, he said, that even the actors’ worst nightmares wouldn’t set it alight!
Yet, in 1878, a disastrous fire did just that-leaving little behind but determination and a stubborn curtain-call spirit. The theatre soon reopened, battered but not beaten. But history’s a tricky scene partner. As cinema fever swept the nation in the 1930s, the majestic old Theatre Royal made its exit-out came the screens, in came the popcorn, and for decades this spot was home to the Royal Cinema. Movie magic reigned, and even Plymouth’s darkest days-the bombing of World War Two-couldn’t shake the popcorn from people’s hands, even when the neighbouring hotel and assembly rooms were lost to bombs.
TV arrived, and cinema stepped offstage for a bit. The site changed hands: it became the ABC, then Reel Cinema. For over half a century, the performances shifted back and forth: from stage to screen, and sometimes back again, as if the very bricks weren’t quite sure whether to belt out a show tune or start the movie trailers. The final curtain on the original site fell in 2019, but don’t worry-no need for tissues just yet.
Because right here, a few streets away, the story soared again. In the late 1970s, Peter Moro and his team of architects swung their creative hammers, raising bold, modern lines in the now-famous brutalist style. The new Theatre Royal Plymouth opened in 1982, with Princess Margaret herself in attendance-don’t worry, you don’t need a tiara to come inside. Today, The Lyric can seat over 1,300 people, but thanks to some clever design magic, the space can shrink down for more intimate shows. The performances? Everything from cutting-edge dramas and blockbuster musicals (did you catch The SpongeBob Musical was filmed right here?) to ballet and opera from world-class companies. If musicals aren’t your thing, wander over to The Drum for new plays and innovative productions-this spot even scooped the Peter Brook Empty Space Award.
And beyond the main stage, the magic continues at TR2, the theatre’s creative workshop by the River Plym. Costumes are stitched, sets are hammered together, ideas leap from rehearsal hall to main stage-all part of one of the country’s biggest regional arts education programs.
So as you stand here, gazing up at those sharp lines and glowing glass, remember: this isn’t just a building, it’s a living, breathing part of Plymouth’s history-full of courage, comedy, a little bit of chaos, and a whole lot of curtain calls. Now, who’s ready for showtime?
