Nights out in Glasgow

The Theatre Royal

On Thursday the 27 November 1867 a theatre opened in Glasgow city centre with a magnificent drama named The sea of Ice also known as The gold seeker of Mexico. Less than two years later in May 1869 the same venue was to become The Glasgow Theatre Royal by charter granted by Queen Victoria, later to become one of the country's most well renowned theatres.

Following two fires in 1879 and 1895, the theatre required complete reconstruction by its owners Howard & Wyndham - the same group who later built the King's Theatre in Glasgow which opened in 1904.

The theatre was famously sold to Scottish Television and converted into a studio complex, before being purchased by Scottish Opera and reopened in October 1975 with a sensational performance of Die Fledermaus. With this began a truly golden era for the theatre.

The Glasgow Theatre Royal provides a wide range of theatrical genres from intense drama to comedy and children theatre - Glasgow itself boasting probably the best pantomime in the UK. The theatre is also home to Scotland's resident companies the Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet and consistently hosts other world class art companies such as the renowned Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.

The theatre has been consistently refurbished over the years to maintain pace with the most modern comfort, technical and customer care facilities available however, never losing its majestic Victorian edge. In 1997 work was completed on the extension to the orchestra pit and a significant revamp in seating, carpeting and décor.

The Theatre Royals' unmistakable character pair with its ability to effortlessly attract the most highly acclaimed and well respected of performers both home and abroad, it has firmly established itself as one of Scotland and indeed the UK's most prestigious theatre venues.

.. [back to Glasgow Theatres index]