Theatre Royal Bath is one of the oldest working theatres in the country, right in the heart of the Georgian City of Bath.

A Brief History of the Theatre
1705 Bath's first theatre was built by George Trim, a small and cramped theatre which made little or no profit.

1738 Thirty years later the theatre was demolished, to make room for a building that was to become the Mineral Water Hospital. A few plays were perfomed, during this time, at Simpson's Rooms
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1723 'The New Theatre', in Kingsmead Street, opened - closing for the last time in 1751. Just before its closure the Prince and Princess of Wales patronised the theatre.

1750 A new theatre, in Orchard Street, opened on 27th October , with a performance of Shakespeare's Henry IV.

1768 By a special act of parliament a royal patent was granted. Bath has a Theatre Royal for the first time, also the first outside London. The theatre's repuation was growing, and a season in Bath was as important for famous actors as a London billing.
1804 Plans for a new and improved theatre in Beaufort Square are made.

1805 Orchard Street theatre closed, to be converted into a Catholic church in 1809. Today it is the Masonic Hall.
Just one year from its conception, the new building was completed. It was designed by George Dance, professor of architecture at the Royal Academy. The theatre opened on 12th October 1805 with a performance of Richard III.

1820 - 1850 Attendance and ticket sales at the theatre declined, closure was threatened on several occasions.

1862 On the 18th April the Theatre was destroyed by fire. Plans were immediately made to build a new theatre on the old site.

1863 The new theatre opened in March. It was designed by C.J. Phipps. 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' was performed on the opening night. Ellen Terry played Titania.

1902 Extensive refurbishments, including a fire-proof curtain, additional entrances and a staircase. This was mainly due to the Royal Patent having expired, and it was renewed with the approval of the Lord Chamberlain.

1905 The theatre's centenary year. Henry Irving made his farewell performance.

1914 Plans were made for extensive structural repairs. These were postponed due to the outbreak of the First World War.

1940 - 1945 The Theatre Royal thrived during the Second World War, surviving the extensive bombing of Bath during the blitz.

1979 The theatre was purchased from Triumph Theatre Productions, to be run as a non-profit making concern - a registered charity.

1980 An appeal was launched to raise funds for much needed renovations. Peter Hall, director of the National Theatre, announced plans to make Bath the National base for middle-scale productions, once the work was completed. It was estimated that the work would cost around £1.8 Million.

1982 The Theatre Royal, as we now know it, re-opened on November 30th, with a gala performance of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (as did its former re-opening in 1863) attended by Princess Margaret.

"Theatrical Performances, when conducted with Decency and Regularity, have always been esteem'd the most rational Amusements, by the Polite and Thinking Part of Mankind. Strangers, therefore, must be greatly surpris'd to find at Bath Entertainments of this sort in no better Perfection than they are, as it is a Place, during its Seasons, honour'd with so great a Number of Persons, eminent for Politeness, Judgment and Taste; and where it might reasonably be expected (next to London) the best Theatre in England"
John Hippisley, 1747, from a proposal for the building of a new theatre in Bath.