Birthday Blaze!
Last night’s 175th birthday festivities at Theatre Royal were a real spectacle. I’ve never seen Grey Street looking as impressive as it did lit by lanterns and torches, fires and fireworks. In different areas of the street crowds gathered to watch a celebration of the stage. Scenes were played out from Macbeth, Oliver!, a slapstick Romeo and Juliet and a panto-style Cinderella. Two enormous tiered cake structures opened up to serve slices of birthday cake. Music – live and recorded – added to the sense of atmosphere. Local restaurants and cafes were buzzing with life. This was exactly what the city needed on a chilly February night!
But the real star was, of course, the theatre itself. It’s easy enough to forget the grandeur of this building when you pass by it on a daily basis, but the blue and purple uplighting ensured every detail in the striking Georgian architecture was pronounced. At 7pm, we gathered around the theatre for a beautiful firework, light and sound display. As Catherine wheels whirred on the rooftop and fountains sprung up from below, you couldn’t help but look forward to a bright future for the Theatre Royal.
