THE contractor who will carry out major redevelopment work at York Theatre Royal has been named.

William Birch and Sons Ltd will work on the historic building to transform the front of house areas and auditorium. York Conservation Trust, which owns the building and leases it to York Citizens Theatre Trust to run, received a number of bids and chose the company because of its track record of working with complex heritage buildings.

Chris Birch, chairman of William Birch & Sons Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this high-profile project that will make such a huge difference to the theatre scene in the city.

“Our long association with the Theatre Royal dating back to the early 1900s stems from Walter G. Birch, my great uncle, who had a passion for the theatre.

“Since that time we have restored and refurbished many listed and historic buildings in the region with their own bespoke complexities and challenges. This experience has equipped us with the heritage skills and experience to work on such important buildings.”

The firm was established in 1874 and has seen five generations develop the company into what it is today.