A Third Consecutive TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award For Bath’s Old Theatre Royal
As reported in SomersetLive recently, The Old Theatre Royal, in Bath, has secured the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award three years in a row.
The Old Theatre Royal is one of the most historic buildings in Bath. It is also one of Bath’s best kept secrets, discreetly situated in Old Orchard Street, now a side-street, but it was once a thriving thoroughfare of the city. It was the first purpose-built theatre in Bath, and the first Theatre Royal outside of London.
It has a rich and varied history, having opened in 1750 as The St. James’ Theatre, but was overtaken by evolving stage craft and growing population. During its 50 years as a theatre, the population of Bath expanded tenfold, and outgrew the venue. Also, by the end of the 18th Century stagecraft demanded techniques for which the theatre was not equipped. The architect John Palmer built Bath’s current theatre, the “New” Theatre Royal, and the Old Orchard Street theatre closed in 1805.
In 1809, the building became St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Chapel, and headquarters of the Catholic mission for the Western District of the country. It was also home to the “restless prelate”, Bishop Baines, from 1829 until his death in the 1840s.
It is now a thriving Masonic Centre for the city, housing six Freemasons’ Lodges and twenty companion orders and degrees.
It is also a flexible venue which can be hired for performances, conferences, weddings, celebrations and education.
Nick Steel, director of the hugely successful Bath Comedy Festival said, when referring to the flexibility of the building, “it is a venue that keeps on giving!”
It also houses one of the most highly regarded Masonic museums in the country and an important Masonic library. There are regular guided tours which give an insight into the building’s history including the theatre, the Catholic chapel and Freemasonry and visitors will learn about the Freemasons’ contribution to the city.
Bath is an early centre of Freemasonry and is home to the first purpose-built Freemasons’ Hall in the country.
Vincent Baughan, co-ordinator of the tour guides and Chairman of the Trust for The Old Theatre Royal said, “it is a great honour to receive this award, and it is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team of volunteer guides, our historian and our curator that we have received this accolade for three consecutive years.” He added, “I am proud to be a member of the guiding team, and to be associated with such an important historical landmark. Nor is it just locally historic, The Old Theatre Royal is nationally significant, in terms of the theatre, the Catholic Church and Freemasonry.”
There are regular guided tours of The Old Theatre Royal on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the year.
Details of tours, and venue hire can be found here.
Click on the image below to read the rave reviews on TripAdvisor:
