Today, The Press publishes the latest in an occasional series of articles by writers who explain what York Theatre Royal means to them.

IT SEEMS it is an essential part of human nature to compare ourselves to others, and so it is natural that we like our home towns to measure up too.

I, for example, couldn’t live in a city without a river and certainly not a “new town”, no matter how user-friendly the parking or the ring road was.

Another essential for me is a place with a theatre, and preferably, like York, more than one.

A theatre that produces its own work, is a receiving house for shows on tour, one with an active youth theatre, a passion for involving volunteers, fabulous coffee and cake and a commitment to generate far more of their operating costs from earnings rather than public subsidy.

While it wasn’t the main reason Ian and I moved to York from the North East, it was on the list of essentials rather than nice to haves. Oh, and in typical York fashion, the Theatre Royal is the oldest theatre in the UK, outside of London.

The reasons why people decide to relocate their homes or businesses to York, or to stay put and invest in and grow them, are complex, and it is impossible to pin it down to one thing.

However, there is plenty of evidence that a strong cultural offer is a factor.

People setting up businesses or relocating them, know that their staff will want to send their children to great schools, they will want a range of independent shops alongside high street names, lots of choices for entertainment and leisure, green spaces, great libraries, opportunities for their children to learn and socialise in safe environments, great cafes, and of course, a world-renowned pantomime to be proud of.

The list goes on, just think about what you do in your spare time and then imagine moving to a place that doesn’t have that offer.

The crucial thing about our cultural life in York is not to take it for granted.

That is why Ian and I wanted to make a donation to the refurbishment of the actual fabric of the building and to help enable the commercial possibilities of new spaces for conferences and meetings.

We are pleased to contribute to the 21st century improvements to an 18th century building and so become part of the continuum that is the essence of York’s identity.

When York Theatre Royal opens again in time for Panto 2015, we will see our names etched into a wall somewhere and we will be thrilled to have had the opportunity to help future generations enjoy what we do now.

- Jane, Lady Gibson