A Guided Tour of the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

By: Blue Badge Tour Guide - Anne Bartlett

The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

A few weeks ago I went with a group on a guided tour of the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham.

We were greeted in the foyer by members of the theatre staff, and then shown into the auditorium where we were seated. Looking around, with the lights on, we could see that this much loved historic building was in need of restoration work and decoration. We were told about a £3m fund raising efforts to secure money for essential maintainance work. We were given a fascinating introductory talk about the history of the Theatre in Cheltenham.

The first theatre, was on a different site, and goes back to the 18th century. It was during King George III's visit to Cheltenham in 1788 that he made several visits to the theatre, enjoying performances by famous actresses such as Sarah Siddons as well as Dorothea Jordon. The theatre was very fashionable, however fifty years later it was in decline and the building was eventually destroyed by fire.

In 1891 a new theatre including opera house was built, to a design by Frank Matcham, one of the greatest theatre architects of the Victorian Age. We admired the intricate detail around the walls and balconies of the auditorium with its Rococo plaster work, its carvings and its painted ceilings, which, we were told, was the oldest surviving example of Matcham’s work still in use as a theatre today, so the decoration is very rare and very special.

We were given a look around behind the scenes and learnt so much about what went on. It was a very enjoyable tour.

Yesterday, we received great news. £500,000 has been granted to the Everyman Theatre by the Heritage Lottery fund which means that £2,750,000 of funding is now in place and the restoration work to the paintings and plasterwork followed by redecoration of the auditorium should begin in May 2011.

Guided tours of the Everyman Theatre are available still, but must be booked in advance. So do look on the website wwweverymantheatre.org.uk. Or telephone 01242 695574

For group guided coach tours of Cheltenham and the surrounding area or walking tours of the town contact anne@tourandexplore.com