תיאטרון ריצ'מונד

תיאטרון ריצ'מונד ניצב על ליטל גרין, לצד ריצ'מונד גרין בדרום מערב לונדון, והוא חלק מחיי הקהילה המקומית מאז 1899. עוצב בידי פרנק מאצ'ם, הוא אחד הדוגמאות השלמות ביותר לעבודתו שנשתמרו ברובע לונדון הגדולה והוא מוגן בדרגה II*, עם עיטורי זהב, מושבים באדום קטיפתי וסידור המוכר של אולם, מעגל ההופעה ומעגל עליון. מנוהל בידי ATG Entertainment, הוא מציג תוכנית משתנה מדי שבוע של מחזות, דרמה לפני ואחרי הווסט אנד, מחזות זמר, אופרה, מחול, מוזיקה ומופעים משפחתיים, בנוסף לפנטומימת חג המולד. תחנת הרכבת ריצ'מונד נמצאת במרחק הליכה של כשלוש דקות.

The theatre opened on 18 September 1899 with a performance of As You Like It, originally under the name the Theatre Royal and Opera House. It was designed by Frank Matcham, the most prolific theatre architect of the era, and built in red brick with buff terracotta. Historic England lists the building Grade II*, and in 1982 the theatre historian John Earl described it as the most completely preserved Matcham theatre in Greater London and one of his most satisfying interiors.

Matcham's plan gave the house stalls, dress circle and upper circle, with four boxes at dress circle level, and an interior of gilt detailing set against red plush seating and circle fronts. A new theatre company was formed at Richmond in January 1950 with Oliver Gordon as resident producer, and its members included Martin Wyldeck, Peter Wyngarde, Raymond Francis and Melanie Paul.

In the early 1990s the building was given a major overhaul overseen by the designer Carl Toms, which added a side extension creating more space for audiences and a Matcham Room, known today as the Ambassador Lounge. The driving force behind the restoration was Sally Greene, supported by Richmond upon Thames Council through its chief executive Richard Harbord and Community Services Committee chairman Serge Lourie.

The building's period interiors and exteriors have made it a favourite with film and television crews, standing in for the Savoy Theatre in Topsy-Turvy, the Duke of York's Theatre in Finding Neverland and Ford's Theatre in National Treasure: Book of Secrets, as well as appearing in Evita and Jonathan Creek. In January 2013 the theatre staged its first relaxed performance, during the pantomime Aladdin, as part of an ATG pilot scheme, and in 2016 it won the People's Choice Award at the Richmond Business Awards.

Getting in

Level access is available to the stalls through a door to the left hand side of the main stairs, and once inside every seat in the stalls area can be reached. The step-free entrance is at the what3words location 'cover.minus.factories'.

Lifts and other levels

Richmond Theatre does not have a lift. Every level other than the stalls is reached by stairs, and getting to the top of the building involves three flights. Handrails are fitted on most stairs. The Ambassador Lounge is only reachable by stairs.

• Four wheelchair positions are available, and stalls aisle seats suit anyone who prefers to transfer to a theatre seat.
• Stalls H1 to H4 and H22 to H25 have extra legroom, as there are no seats directly in front.
• From stalls rows H to T there is a gentle incline.
• The space between armrests is 44cm, or 17 inches, and the armrests are static. The only free-standing seats without armrests are in the dress circle boxes and the upper circle platforms, all of which are restricted view.
• There is one accessible toilet at stalls level, near the accessible entrance.
• There is level access to the stalls bar from the stalls auditorium, with a lower level counter near the door, and at seat service can be arranged on arrival.

Performances and services

The theatre schedules access performances across the year, including audio described and relaxed and dementia friendly performances, with touch tours advertised on individual show pages where available. The venue uses the Mobile Connect hearing enhancement system. A visual story for first time visitors is available by emailing RichmondCreativeLearning@atgentertainment.com.

Booking

Accessibility assistance is available on 0333 009 5399, or via Typetalk on 1800 1 0333 009 5399. ATG's free Access Membership Scheme lets you book accessible seats online, book essential companion tickets if eligible and receive news of access performances.