Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia
Royal Theatre
The Royal Theatre in Victoria British Columbia opened in 1913 as a privately built and operated roadhouse. It has seen many of the 20th century's great performers on its stage, including Sarah Bernhardt, Carlos Montoya, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Luciano Pavarotti, in spite of having been used in part as a cinema from 1917 until 1981. The Royal is home to the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria, as well as being Vancouver Island's premiere venue for touring attractions.
The Royal Theatre has a proscenium stage, a single balcony plus two side boxes, and conventional seating, with a capacity of 1434, including ten wheelchair positions. Forty-five seats are removed for a full orchestra pit. The original foyer has been augmented by lobby extensions completed in 1991, while the auditorium retains its original Rococo/Renaissance Revival style decor.
The Royal Theatre operates as a licensee/rental venue, under the administration of the Royal & McPherson Theatres Society.
Web site: www.rmts.bc.ca
Information provided by Lloyd Fitzsimonds
Last updated 2021-09-13
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The Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia web site was originally conceived and developed in 1996 by Gaetan Charlebois—theatre critic, playwright, and actor.
