York Theatre Royal has launched a campaign to raise £500,000 to help pay for its biggest upgrade in 50 years. Today, The Press publishes the latest in an occasional series of columns by writers explaining what the theatre means to them.

IN October, I attended the York Theatre Royal’s Patrons’ annual fundraising event in the De Grey Rooms. As always the welcome was warm and the atmosphere buoyant. The theatre’s inspirational artistic director, Damian Cruden, gave us a pertinent and heartfelt talk and then a short film highlighted the theatre’s colourful, often precarious, history from 1744 to 2014.

Later that evening we joined an excited audience gathered to watch Pinter’s darkly magnetic Betrayal.The rich nature of the occasion prompted me to assess what the building and all the personnel within it really meant to me. Its significance is difficult to quantify, but I do know that on any visit to York Theatre Royal, pushing open those heavy foyer doors, feeling the buzz, anticipating the show fills me with joy.

How it has inspired, fascinated, informed and made me laugh and cry for more than 40 years. With the upcoming improvements to the theatre’s buildings, through donations large or small, we can ensure that future generations will be enriched, as we are, by passing through its doors.

Back to the foyer (which, by the way, the new building plans show is going to be much larger and stunning) where I buy a programme, have a chat with the friendly staff and turn to the right to see how the ticket office personnel are doing. How fitting that foyer comes from a French word meaning hearth. Certainly warmth and a sense of common intent are palpable.

Examining this year’s collection of programmes, I appear to have seen almost every major production.

Considering the huge demand on theatre staff resulting from imminent major building works and refurbishments, the programme last year was astonishing in scope.

There is an impressive variety of theatrical fare on offer to us and the briefest perusal of the current brochure will reveal the complex nature of what’s on at York Theatre Royal.

Visiting theatre and amateur productions abound. Schools and colleges are offered specialised resources and signed, audio-described and captioned performances show that York Theatre Royal really does take its public responsibilities seriously.

Hamlet speaks loud and clear to Polonius when the Players arrive upon the scene. ‘ Will you see the Players well-bestowed... Do you hear, let them be well-used, for they are the abstracts and brief chronicles of the time...’ Theatre-lovers now recognise, I think, the precious nature of our inheritance. Let us use it well and do what we can to ensure its continued vibrant life.

by Sheila Taylor, theatregoer


• We would like to thank Sheila for her generous donation. For more information on the Theatre’s appeal go to www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk, or to donate Text YTRC15 £(amount you wish to donate) to 70070 or go to: justgiving.com/yorktheatreroyal/donate