--- title: Theatre Royal celebrates 160 glorious years entertaining Nottingham audiences date: 2025-07-01T00:00:00+01:00 author: "rhys@weareabstrakt.com" canonical_url: "https://www.itsinnottingham.com/news/theatre-royal-concert-hall-nottingham" section: News --- [IIN News](/news/) / [Promoted City](https://www.itsinnottingham.com/news/categories/promoted-city) # Theatre Royal celebrates 160 glorious years entertaining Nottingham audiences ![8ea1b6fbc3d92596fc930975128be5d8515cfe9f 1920x1080 q75fitclipautoformat](/uploads/generic/_1225x690_crop_center-center_none/796/8ea1b6fbc3d92596fc930975128be5d8515cfe9f-1920x1080-q75fitclipautoformat.jpg) A Nottingham landmark for over a century and a half, the stunningly beautiful Theatre Royal will celebrate 160 glorious years in September 2025. **Posted:** Jul 2025 --- The venue will host a special programme of free community and heritage events from Monday 22 to Saturday 27 September, including an **Open Day** with access behind the scenes, heritage exhibition, talks, and foyer performances. During the week of the anniversary, the National Theatre’s smash hit production, ***Dear England***, will be visiting the Theatre Royal from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 September, as part of its first ever national tour. This forms a particularly fitting part of the venue’s celebrations, as the play’s acclaimed writer, James Graham, grew up locally and saw his early theatre, including first pantomimes, at the Theatre Royal. On finishing University, he also got his first job in theatre as the venue’s stage doorkeeper. **The Theatre Royal’s Interim Venue Director, Dan Baxter, said**: *“We are so proud to be celebrating a landmark birthday this year with a programme focused very much on the Theatre Royal’s rich history. We’ve curated an exciting programme of free events in order to encourage as many people as possible to engage with us, especially those who may be visiting this beautiful space for the very first time.* *"The Theatre Royal has been part of Nottingham’s living history for 160 years, a beating heart at the centre of the city’s cultural scene. We look forward to sharing this much-loved venue with visitors to our special anniversary events, whether that’s giving a glimpse behind the scenes, showing items from our extensive archive, or hearing more of people’s own personal memories, recollections, and stories. Come and join the fun, we can’t wait to see you!”* ### Programme of free events – **Monday 22 September 7pm** **Pygmalion Rehearsed Reading** A rehearsed reading of Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion on the Dress Circle foyer, celebrating the venue’s centenary production of My Fair Lady in 1965. [Our Theatre Royal Nottingham](https://ourtheatreroyal.org/s/default/item/1646) Dress Circle foyer Free event – Booking required via [www.trch.co.uk](https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trch.co.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Canoushka%40itsinnottingham.com%7C97787da6fccc4e6829bb08ddc90f2d51%7C4bb4a28871484e07a0a11038dfd3be55%7C0%7C0%7C638887790047284970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GOxOLQvhVM75t7y5WeP%2B2KFDboELluiGbLC18Dhrz14%3D&reserved=0) or 0115 989 5555 **Friday 26 September 1pm** **Free Talk and Heritage Exhibition: 160 Years of the Theatre Royal Nottingham** A fascinating glimpse into the Theatre Royal’s 160-year-old archive, with a display of material presented by volunteers from the Theatre Royal’s heritage team. The exhibition will be available to view during venue opening times from Tuesday 12 August to Sunday 28 September. Dress Circle foyer Free event – Booking required for Heritage Talk via [www.trch.co.uk](https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trch.co.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Canoushka%40itsinnottingham.com%7C97787da6fccc4e6829bb08ddc90f2d51%7C4bb4a28871484e07a0a11038dfd3be55%7C0%7C0%7C638887790047294342%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=65cDJ5fmdLHgNQEdbE9morw7F%2BuydfFLT0xqHZrJHts%3D&reserved=0) or 0115 989 5555 **Saturday 27 September 9am-12.30pm** **Theatre Royal Open Day** Join a backstage tour, chat with theatre experts, enjoy free children’s craft activities, and browse a display of memorabilia from the Theatre Royal’s extensive archive. This free event is suitable for all ages. Backstage tours will start from 9am, with the last tour commencing at 12 noon. Tickets for backstage tours will be available to book in advance, as well as on a first-come-first-served basis on the day. Theatre Royal, all foyer areas (tours commence in stalls foyer) Free event – Advance booking available for backstage tours, including a wheelchair accessible tour, via [www.trch.co.uk](https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trch.co.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Canoushka%40itsinnottingham.com%7C97787da6fccc4e6829bb08ddc90f2d51%7C4bb4a28871484e07a0a11038dfd3be55%7C0%7C0%7C638887790047303571%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=CcLtynCwWUvZJMnvATswXsDJd8Mrl08NP%2F9jLbUxoCA%3D&reserved=0) or 0115 989 5555 For more information on the Theatre Royal Nottingham’s 160-year anniversary celebrations, visit [https://trch.co.uk/theatre-royal-celebrates-160-years](https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftrch.co.uk%2F%3Fp%3D57080%26preview%3Dtrue%26v%3D687a025703eb2&data=05%7C02%7Canoushka%40itsinnottingham.com%7C97787da6fccc4e6829bb08ddc90f2d51%7C4bb4a28871484e07a0a11038dfd3be55%7C0%7C0%7C638887790047313019%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gyq8tOFMMRf7vNWxQrPFoec5P29NZeMBdcxqn0ACRjc%3D&reserved=0) *Image credits –* *Teaser image – Theatre Royal Nottm c. 1979 courtesy of Edgar Lloyd and www.picturethepast.org.uk (NTGM003960)* *Hero image – Martine Hamilton Knight* --- Share Article: [ ](https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.itsinnottingham.com%2Fnews%2Ftheatre-royal-concert-hall-nottingham"e=Theatre%20Royal%20celebrates%20160%20glorious%20years%20entertaining%20Nottingham%20audiences) [ ](https://twitter.com/share?text=Theatre%20Royal%20celebrates%20160%20glorious%20years%20entertaining%20Nottingham%20audiences&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.itsinnottingham.com%2Fnews%2Ftheatre-royal-concert-hall-nottingham) [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.itsinnottingham.com%2Fnews%2Ftheatre-royal-concert-hall-nottingham"e=Theatre%20Royal%20celebrates%20160%20glorious%20years%20entertaining%20Nottingham%20audiences) ### Related Articles [ ![8ff84f49367993459110d53737b3c5e530632f8c 940x788 w2400q80fitclipautoformat](/uploads/generic/_320x245_crop_center-center_none/785/8ff84f49367993459110d53737b3c5e530632f8c-940x788-w2400q80fitclipautoformat.jpg) Family-friendly restaurants in Nottingham ](https://www.itsinnottingham.com/news/family-friendly-restaurants-in-nottingham) [ ![2b9d38e2a9e4f79f01565aa43ace13dfba1f2503 940x788 w2400q80fitclipautoformat](/uploads/generic/_320x245_crop_center-center_none/709/2b9d38e2a9e4f79f01565aa43ace13dfba1f2503-940x788-w2400q80fitclipautoformat.jpg) Free family trail that you don't want to miss! ](https://www.itsinnottingham.com/news/robin-hood-adventure-trail) [ ![B3a6ecd0a332fd3e0e5cd0a863ca8e5797f00e87 940x788 w2400q80fitclipautoformat](/uploads/generic/_320x245_crop_center-center_none/901/b3a6ecd0a332fd3e0e5cd0a863ca8e5797f00e87-940x788-w2400q80fitclipautoformat.jpg) Afternoon tea in Nottingham city centre ](https://www.itsinnottingham.com/news/afternoon-tea-in-nottingham) Be In The Know Be In The Know Be In The Know Be In The Know Be In The Know Be In The Know ![Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery](/uploads/generic/_360x540_crop_center-center_none/footer-flick2-01.jpg) ![Nottingham Market Square](/uploads/generic/_360x540_crop_center-center_none/footer-flick2-03.jpg) ![Red Leaves](/uploads/generic/_360x540_crop_center-center_none/footer-flick2-02.jpg) Follow us *on* SOCIALS Amazing food and drinks, all the shops you'll ever need, and inspirational events and activities. [ ](https://www.instagram.com/itsinnottingham/?hl=en) [ ](https://www.facebook.com/itsinnottingham/?locale=en_GB) [ ](https://twitter.com/itsinnottingham) [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/its-in-nottingham/)