Richmond Theatre celebrated its 125th anniversary with a reception event on Wednesday night.
The reception was attended by Richmond Park MP Sarah Olney, the Mayor of Richmond, and the theatre’s director Allie Long.
The theatre, which first opened in 1899 as the Theatre Royal and Opera House, has become a staple of the south west London arts scene, priding itself on having shows before they hit the West End.
Last year, three shows which first performed at the theatre went onto runs in West End theatres, including A Little Life with Andrew Scott.
Olney said: “The theatre is a wonderful part of our community.
“The team who run the venue should be immensely proud. It’s incredible to have such a world class space in our quiet corner of London and I can’t wait to see what they have planned for us next.”
Mayoress & I attended the 125th Anniversary @RichmondTheatre along with a cast incl. former Mayor Cllr Baldwin, MP @sarahjolney1 celebs to walk down memory lane of the varied performances at this wonderful Matcham Theatre. A great venue in Richmond that adds to our cultural life. pic.twitter.com/OFKCfb7DSt
— Mayor of Richmond (@LBRUTMayor) September 19, 2024
Throughout its history, the theatre has seen many household names perform on its stage, including Lenny Henry, Catherine Tate and Spike Milligan.
The theatre has also become a popular filming location, having been used in Finding Neverland, Bugsy Malone and Killing Eve.
This popularity has even extended to see the building become a tourist hotspot for fans of the TV show “Ted Lasso”, about the fictional manager of AFC Richmond, which used the site for filming.
Continuing the celebrations, the theatre is hosting an open day tomorrow.
The day will offer visitors the chance to learn more about the history of the theatre, as well as seeing many historical items from the last 125 years on display.
Richmond Theatre is also offering a guided behind the scenes tour to mark the occasion.
Long said: “I am incredibly proud to be a part of this momentous 125th Birthday year as the Theatre Director for Richmond Theatre.
“As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, I am thrilled for audiences to enjoy an exhilarating lineup of programming and events for 2024 that promises to captivate, inspire, and entertain.
”Here’s to an extraordinary year ahead, celebrating the rich history and vibrant future of Richmond Theatre.”
Featured image credit: Richmond Theatre
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