Monument record BSE 260 - Theatre Royal

2005: Recording, and limited investigation work, was carried out at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds in advance of a major restoration project. There was evidence that the original access to the stalls was from the eastern side passage, (as suggested by David Wilmore) but a concrete floor laid during the 1960’s and extensive backfilling obscured the details. From bore holes dug through the concrete it is possible to suggest the stage front formerly extended further into the auditorium. The investigation of a column cap failed to identify evidence that a second tier of columns (and a third tier of boxes) had been removed from the original building (S1).

Designed by William Wilkings the Younger, the Theatre Royal in Bury is one of the few existing 19th century theatres built by major but by non-specialist architects. It is built of brick and presents a small-scale classical facade to Westgate Street. The auditorium is on four levels and originally held 800. The pit is surrounded by a double horseshoe of boxes, the lower tier having four rows of seats whilst to the upper tier there is an unbroken sweep of 15 boxes with no pillars to obstruct the view. The proscenium is rectangular in shape, and is flanked by pairs of marbled classical piers. The line of the present forestage, which is also convertible into an orchestra pit, dates from 1906 when the theatre was redecorated by Bertie Crewe. The exceptionally large stage, 12.2 metres wide by 12.2 metres deep, was removed between 1925, when the theatre closed, and 1962 when it ceased to be a barrel store for the neighbouring brewery. The theatre was restored in 1965 by a Trust who employed Ernest Scott as architect and further alterations were made in 1974 by Norman Westwater. In 1994 Purcell, Miller and Tritton added a single-storey extension to the rear and in 1995 they improved the facade, lowered the forecourt to the 1819 level and redecorated the foyer and auditorium ceiling. The theatre is now used as a medium-scale touring and amateur theatre by a charitable company, while the lease has, since 1975, been in the hands of the National Trust. It was the first theatre to be acquired by the Trust.

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, is a gault brick and stuccoed building designed by William Wilkins and built circa 1819. It fell into disuse and was used as a warehouse until it was restored and reopened as a theatre in 1965. Grade 1. (S2-S3)