Theatre Royal, Plymouth

In 1758 a theatre was built at the top of George Street in Plymouth. Originally known as the Theatre, Frankfort-Gate, The cinema survived the Plymouth Blitz during the Second World War, which destroyed the adjoining hotel and assembly rooms.{{cite book By 1954 the decline in cinema-going caused by the rise of television led to the cinema's being partly converted back to a theatre and rechristened as the Theatre Royal Cinema.{{cite book On a different site, the current Theatre Royal was designed in 1977 by the Peter Moro Partnership, which had already designed a number of new theatres around the country.{{cite book ==The Lyric (the main auditorium)==

The Lyric seats 1,315 but has a unique ability to compress the auditorium, creating a more intimate performance space of 787. It has a steep auditorium with two galleries and very large proscenium arch. The range of work presented and produced is extensive and includes major touring drama and musical productions, as well as leading opera and dance companies (including the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Rambert Dance Company, Glyndebourne on Tour and the Welsh National Opera). In 2019, The SpongeBob Musical was filmed for television in front of a live audience at the Theatre Royal Plymouth. The Lyric also produces its own drama and musical productions each year, usually with commercial or subsidised partners. ==The Drum==

The Drum (capacity – 200) specialises in the production of new plays and has a good reputation for its innovative programme. It won the Peter Brook Empty Space Award in 2007. It often collaborates with other subsidised companies and venues such as the Royal Court, ATC, the Lyric Hammersmith, the Bush Theatre, Frantic Assembly, Hampstead Theatre, Paines Plough, the Traverse Theatre and the Tron Glasgow. ==The Production and Learning Centre, TR2==

The Production and Learning Centre, TR2, is on the bank of the River Plym, and was designed by Ian Ritchie Architects. It contains set, costume, prop-making and rehearsal facilities. TR2 provides one of the biggest education and outreach programmes for a regional venue in the UK. ==References==