Royal & Derngate

Royal & Derngate

Main entrance
Address	1 Guildhall Road Northampton, Northamptonshire
Coordinates	52°14′10″N 0°53′37″W / 52.2362°N 0.8936°W
Owner	Northampton Theatres Trust
Designation	Grade II listed (Royal)
Capacity	583 (Royal) 1,200 (Derngate) 90 (Filmhouse)
Current use	In-house productions National touring productions
Construction
Opened	1884 (Royal) 1983 (Derngate) 2006 (Royal & Derngate) 2013 (Errol Flynn Filmhouse)
Rebuilt	1887 C J Phipps (fire) 2005 (refurbishment)
Architect	C J Phipps (Royal) Aedas RHWL (Derngate)
Website
Royal & Derngate website

Royal & Derngate is a theatre complex in the Cultural Quarter of Northampton, England, consisting of the Royal Theatre and the Derngate Theatre. The Royal Theatre, established as a producing house, has a capacity of 583 seats and since 1976 has been designated a Grade II listed building;^[1] the Derngate Theatre seats a maximum of 1,200 and is a multi-purpose space in which the auditorium can be configured for a variety of events including theatre, opera, live music, dance, fashion and sports. The Errol Flynn Filmhouse, an independent cinema built to the side of the complex, opened in 2013.

The Royal was built by theatre architect Charles J. Phipps and opened in 1884. Ninety-nine years later in 1983, the Derngate, designed by RHWL, was built to the rear of the Royal. Whilst the two theatres were physically linked, they only formally merged as one combined organisation in 1999, run by the Northampton Theatres Trust. In 2005, both theatres closed for an 18-month £14.5m redevelopment, which saw the merging of both venues into one construction, the building of a creativity centre, and the total refurbishment of the two venues. The complex reopened as Royal & Derngate in October 2006. From its reopening, Laurie Sansom was Artistic Director;^[2] under his tenure, The Stage hailed Royal & Derngate as The Regional Theatre of the Year (2010) in its inaugural Stage 100 Awards for "its artistic quality and connections it has with local audiences."^[3] James Dacre took over as Artistic Director in 2013. It was shortlisted for the Regional Theatre of the Year Award again in 2016.^[4]

In addition to staging and producing entertainment, Royal & Derngate also provide a programme of creative projects in its Underground space, homing its Youth Theatre and giving the local community the chance to get involved in performing, writing and to find out more about what goes on behind the scenes.

History

Entrance to the Royal on Guildhall Road in May 2013

The Royal Theatre was the first building of what now exists as the Royal & Derngate complex. The Royal, then called the Theatre Royal and Opera House, was built for John Franklin by Henry Martin and designed by renowned Victorian theatre architect Charles J. Phipps with mural artist Henry Bird.^[5] It opened on 5 May 1884 with a production of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.^[6] On the theatre's opening, The Stage newspaper reported:

No element of success was wanting to contribute to the superb triumph that crowned the opening of this new theatre; the audience which thronged every available part of the house, comprised the rank and fashion of the town and county, while the charming Thespian temple, fresh from the hand of the scene painters, gleamed everywhere with light and colour. The artistically designed scenery, the dress circle brilliant with blue and gold, the crimson rested chairs, together with the soft and delicate beauty of the ceiling and mural embellishment, were the theme of audible admiration from all parts of the house.

The theatre suffered damage from fire in 1887, and was restored by Charles J. Phipps who also built the Savoy Theatre in London. Its proscenium stage was also widened in 1889. In its first four decades, productions of George Edwardes' musical comedies operas, pantomimes, burlesques and melodramas were most popular, but since becoming home to the Northampton Repertory Players in 1927, the Royal Theatre has run as a producing house ever since, now supported by a workshop and wardrobe. The Royal has, since 1976, been designated a Grade II listed building.

Actor Errol Flynn made early appearances on the Royal's stage before embarking on his film career. For several months in 1933, he was part of the Northampton Repertory Players at the Royal.^[7] In January 1977, scenes for the Doctor Who serial The Talons of Weng-Chiang were shot inside the theatre.^[8] The serial was set in Victorian London and an authentic atmosphere was wanted for the theatre scenes. According to director David Maloney on the DVD commentary, it was chosen because it had the nearest original fly gallery to London.

The Derngate Theatre was added to the rear of the Royal on the site of what was Northampton's former bus station. Following its conception by Northampton Borough Council, RHWL designed the new theatre and building work started in the early 1980s. It opened on 4 April 1983 with an evening performance by singer Jack Jones.

Recent years

In 1999, the Royal Theatre and the Derngate Theatre became a combined organisation, run by the Northampton Theatres Trust. In 2005, both theatres closed for an 18-month redevelopment. The total cost, £14.5 million, was received from various outlets, including £1.6m from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £2.6m from the East Midlands Development Agency and Northampton Partnernship and almost £1m from partnership funding by the theatres' development team.^[9] The redevelopment merged and totally refurbished both venues. A creativity centre was also built. 100 staff were made redundant but were all offered the opportunity of re-employment once the complex reopened.^[9] Initially, the refurbishment work was to be in three month periods annually. However, there was a need to remove asbestos in both venues and to repair rotten flooring in the Royal. It was decided to shut the venue for over one year.^[9]

Most money was spent on making the theatres "more comfortable for the audiences" with new seats and air conditioning.^[10] The 1980s orange décor of Derngate was replaced with lighting techniques allowing changes the colour of the interior. The Royal was returned to its original Victorian splendour.^[10] Other improvements included the creation of a joint foyer with a new main entrance. A creativity centre for education and community work was added together with an atrium-style performance space, a new rehearsal room and better changing rooms for actors.^[10]

During the 18-month closure, productions were moved elsewhere: the Comedy Club moved to the Roadmender, as did the youth theatre and education work. The classical music season went to Spinney Hill Hall at Northampton School for Girls while dance moved to The Castle theatre in Wellingborough.^[10]

A view of the Royal & Derngate complex from Swan Street in 2013. In 2015 an hotel was constructed in the car park in front of the building obscuring this view.

The complex reopened as Royal & Derngate in October 2006. Its future was then threatened by annual cuts of £250,000 by Northampton Borough Council. A short term solution was reached with Northamptonshire County Council funding the Borough Council's cuts for the next two years.

Royal & Derngate is now the main venue for arts and entertainment in Northamptonshire. The Royal auditorium seats 530, the Derngate seats 1,200-1,400 people and the 2013 film theatre 90. The venue offers a diverse programme: drama, dance, stand-up comedy, classical music, children’s shows, opera and pantomime. It also hosts the February degree conferment ceremonies for the University of Northampton each year. The venue has produced critically acclaimed shows including Sondheim’s Follies, J.B. Priestley’s The Glass Cage, The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie and Roald Dahl’s James And The Giant Peach, as well as collaborating with Frantic Assembly on productions of Frankenstein and Othello.

Recent success

Royal & Derngate welcomes over 300,000 audience members each year to see work in both stages and in the Underground space. 20,000 people a year also take part in over 700 creative projects. Over 20,000 people attended a free outdoor spectacular Crackers? by The World Famous at Delapre Park and a further 80,000 people enjoyed Made in Northampton productions (productions made in-house at Royal & Derngate) on tour throughout the UK.

In 2009, to celebrate its 125th anniversary, the theatres' season included a celebration of Britain's most popular living playwright, Alan Ayckbourn, a brand new show created with the funny company Spymonkey, and a Young America season featuring two rarely seen plays by Eugene O’Neill and Tennessee Williams about young people in love. Royal & Derngate also toured co-productions of Kneehigh Theatre's Brief Encounter and with Fiery Angel, The BFG. In addition, Royal & Derngate played host to some of the biggest touring shows in the country, including the UK premiere of English National Ballet’s Angelina Ballerina’s Big Audition and Rambert Dance Company also returned since the redevelopment.

The following year, the Young America season, transferred to the National Theatre in London, winning a TMA Award and being nomination for an Evening Standard Award. In 2010, Royal & Derngate developed a new charity to provide not-for-profit management services for the complex; it also established another charity to operate Corby Cube, a new theatre in Corby.

In 2011, as well as the West End transfer of End of the Rainbow, which was nominated for 4 Olivier Awards, Royal & Derngate was named the Regional Theatre of the Year in the inaugural Stage 100 awards.

Made in Northampton productions

Made in Northampton is the name given to productions that have been produced in-house at Royal & Derngate. Since re-opening, Royal & Derngate has worked with various writers, creative teams and companies to produce these shows to a lot of critical and commercial avail.

2014 season
Show	Duration	Director	Notes
A Tale of Two Cities, adapted by Mike Poulton	21 February — 15 March	James Dacre	Composed by Rachel Portman
"The Body of An American" by Dan O'Brien	27 February — 8 March	James Dacre	A co-production with The Gate Theatre
Every Last Trick, adapted by Tamsin Oglesby	18 April — 10 May	Paul Hunter	A collaboration between members of Spymonkey and Told By An Idiot
Moominsummer Madness, adapted by Phil Porter	22 May — 1 June	Dani Parr and Peter Gianville	A co-production with Polka Theatre, in association with Little Angel Theatre
Pat Barker's Regeneration, adapted for the stage by Nicholas Wright	22 August — 20 September		A co-production with Touring Consortium Theatre Company
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof	1 — 18 October	James Dacre	A co-production with Northern Stage and the Royal Exchange Theatre
Merlin by Ella Hickson	26 November 2014 — 4 January 2015		A co-production with Nuffield Theatre

2013 season
Show	Duration	Director	Notes
One for the Road	1 — 23 February	Laurie Sansom	Part of Comedy Gold season
Mr Whatnot	15 March — 6 April	Cal McCrystal	Part of Comedy Gold season
A Midsummer Night's Dream	19 April — 11 May	Gary Sefton	Part of Comedy Gold season
Dancing at Lughnasa	24 May — 15 June	Richard Beecham
To Sir, With Love	6 — 28 September	Mark Babych	Nominated—WhatsOnStage Award for Best Regional Production
The Wind in the Willows	27 November 2013 — 5 January 2014	Gary Sefton

2012 season
Show	Duration	Director	Notes
Oedipussy	3 — 18 February	Emma Rice	A co-production with Spymonkey
Ladies in Lavender	6 — 21 April	Robin Lefevre	A co-production with Daniel Schumann and Lee Dean
The Bacchae	18 May — 30 June	Laurie Sansom	Part of the Festival of Chaos season
Blood Wedding	18 May — 30 June	Laurie Sansom	Part of the Festival of Chaos season
Hedda Gabler	6 — 28 July	Laurie Sansom	Part of the Festival of Chaos season
Bully Boy	24 August — 15 September	David Gilmore and Patrick Sandford	A co-production with Lee Dean, Charles Diamond, Daniel Schumann and St James Theatre
God of Carnage	19 October — 10 November	Kate Saxon
A Christmas Carol	28 November 2012 — 6 January 2013	Gary Sefton
Humbug!	11 December 2012 — 13 January 2013	Dani Parr

2011 season
Show	Duration	Director	Notes
The Years Between	4 — 26 February	Kate Saxon	Nominated—TMA Award for Best Performance in a Play
Diary of a Nobody	4 — 19 March	Gary Sefton	A co-production with Under the Radar Partnership
In Praise of Love	1 — 23 April	Richard Beecham
Hamlet! The Musical	6 — 21 May	Ryan McBride	A co-production with Eleanor Lloyd Productions
Eden End	6 — 25 June	Laurie Sansom
End of the Rainbow	25 August — 3 September	Terry Johnson	Post West End revival, prior to national tour A co-production with Lee Dean
Basket Case	9 — 24 September	Robin Lefevre	A co-production with Lee Dean
The Two Gentlemen of Verona	30 September — 22 October	Matthew Dunster
The Go-Between	2 — 19 November	Roger Haines	A co-production with Derby Live and West Yorkshire Playhouse UK Theatre Award for Best Production of a Musical
Alice in Wonderland	30 November 2011 — 8 January 2012	Laurie Sansom and Dani Parr

2010 season
Show	Duration	Director	Notes
End of the Rainbow	5 — 20 February	Terry Johnson	Part of Addicted to You season A co-production with Lee Dean Revived at Trafalgar Studios, London from 2010 to 2011 Revived at Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis in 2012 Revived at Belasco Theatre, New York in 2010 Outer Critics' Circle Award and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play Nominated—Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Actress, Best New Play, Best Supporting Actor and Best Sound Design Nominated—Tony Awards for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Sound Design
My Zinc Bed	26 February — 13 March	Laurie Sansom	Part of Addicted to You season
Honest	26 February — 13 March	Mike Bartlett	Part of Addicted to You season
Travels with My Aunt	30 April — 15 May	Gary Sefton
Town	18 June — 3 July	Esther Richardson	Part of Hometown season
Flathampton	9 — 17 July	Dani Parr	Part of Hometown season Revived in 2011
The Talented Mr. Ripley	17 September — 9 October	Raz Shaw
The Duchess of Malfi	15 — 30 October	Laurie Sansom	Nominated—TMA Award for Best Design
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe	1 December 2010 — 9 January 2011	Dani Parr
Through the Wardrobe	7 — 19 December	Beth van der Ham-Edwards

2009 season
Show	Duration	Director	Notes
Noël Coward's Brief Encounter	13 — 28 February	Emma Rice	Kneehigh Theatre in collaboration with Royal & Derngate TMA Award for Best Touring Production
The BFG	12 — 28 March	Phil Clark	A co-production with Fiery Angel
Under Milk Wood	1 — 16 May	Adele Thomas
Wish Wash	6 — 27 June	Dani Parr
Just Between Ourselves	22 May — 13 June	Mark Rosenblatt	Part of Ayckbourn at 70 season
Private Fears in Public Places	22 June — 11 July	Laurie Sansom	Part of Ayckbourn at 70 season Nominated—TMA Award for Best Lighting Design
Man of the Moment	27 July — 15 August	Alan Ayckbourn	Ayckbourn at 70 season
Moby Dick	18 — 26 September	Jos Houben	A co-production with Spymonkey
Beyond the Horizon and Spring Storm	9 October — 14 November	Laurie Sansom	Part of Young America season Revived at London's National Theatre in 2010 TMA Award for Best Director and Best Lighting Design Nominated—Evening Standard Award for Best Director
Honk!	1 December 2009 — 3 January 2010	Andrew Panton

2008 season
Show	Duration	Director	Notes
The Clean House	1 — 16 February	John Dove	In association with Lee Dean
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein	22 February — 15 March	Laurie Sansom	In association with Frantic Assembly
Humble Boy	11 April — 3 May	Richard Beecham
Laurel and Hardy	20 — 31 May	Peter Rowe	A co-production with New Wolsey, Ipswich in association with Anvil Arts
James and the Giant Peach	13 — 28 June	Dani Parr
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie	12 September — 4 October	Laurie Sansom	TMA Award for Best Performance in a Play Revived at Assembly Hall, Edinburgh in 2009
Othello	7 — 18 October	Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett	Frantic Assembly and Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Royal & Derngate TMA Award for Best Director
The Wizard of Oz	3 December 2008 — 11 January 2009	Laurie Sansom

2007 season
Show	Duration	Director	Notes
Twelfth Night	26 January — 17 February	Laurie Sansom	Part of A Season of Love and Madness
Soap	2 — 24 March	Laurie Sansom	Part of A Season of Love and Madness
The Way of the World	27 April — 19 May	Selina Cadell	Part of A Season of Love and Madness
Knitwits	21 April — 12 May	Dani Parr
Closer	25 May — 16 June	Tamara Harvey
Starseeker	22 June — 7 July	Dani Parr
Time of My Life	21 September — 13 October	Laurie Sansom
The Glass Cage	1 — 17 November
101 Dalmatians	4 December 2007 — 6 January 2008	Dani Parr

2006 season
Show	Duration	Director	Notes
Follies	20 October – 18 November	Laurie Sansom	Nominated—TMA Award for Best Musical Production
Pinocchio	5 December 2006 — 13 January 2007	Lu Kemp

See also

• Errol Flynn Filmhouse
• Michael Napier Brown

References

1. 1039681 - The National Heritage List for England | English Heritage
2. Whatsonstage.com report of Sansom's appointment.
3. BBC - Royal & Derngate Theatre wins national award
4. http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/royal-derngate-nominated-as-regional-theatre-of-year-in-the-stage-awards-1-7132634
5. http://www.turnipnet.com/atc/safetycurtain.htm Henry Bird and his Theatrical Mural on the Ashcroft Theatre Safety Curtain, Croydon
6. Pevsner, Nikolaus (1961). The Buildings of England – Northamptonshire. London and New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 334. ISBN 978-0-300-09632-3.
7. Connelly, Gerry (1998). Errol Flynn in Northampton. Domra Publications. ISBN 978-0-9524417-2-4.
8. "The Talons Of Weng-Chiang". A Brief History Of Time (Travel). Retrieved 21 December 2013.
9. 100 face sack as Northampton's Royal and Derngate go dark - News - The Stage
10. BBC - Northamptonshire - Entertainment - Dramatic changes at the Royal and Derngate

Bibliography

• Guide to British Theatres 1750-1950, John Earl and Michael Sell pp. 170–71 (Theatres Trust, 2000) ISBN 0-7136-5688-3

External links

• Royal and Derngate Theatres, Northampton
• History of Northampton's Theatres and Cinemas