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The Everyman Theatre opened as the New Theatre and Opera House
on 1 October 1891 with
a production of Tom Taylor's 'Lady Clancarty' starring Lily Langtry. The Theatre was designed
by the architect Frank Matcham, who also built the London Coliseum,
London Hippodrome and London Palladium. The Theatres
Trust believe The Everyman to be the oldest complete surviving example of a Matcham
Theatre. Built in six months, its restrained decoration of the frontage to Regent Street contrast sharply with rich carvings and glittering detail of the auditorium.
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| The Everyman Theatre |
Famous stage personalities, such as Ellen Terry, HB Irving and even Charlie Chaplin, appeared here. The first showing of a 'talkie' film in Cheltenham was here in October 1929 with the film Bulldof Drummond starring Ronald Colman and Joan Bennet, followed the next week by Al Johnson's The Singing Fool. Indeed until 1936 the theatre was chiefly used to show films.
In 1955 the Theatre was
brought by the council and reopened 4 years later, since when it's been called
The Everyman. Thanks to a major rebuilding programme in the 1980s, the theatre
looks as it did a century ago. The delicate auditorium was renovated
and the entire backstage area was rebuilt. The Theatre has a capacity of 658
and is Grade II listed. Apart from regular theatre repertoir it serves as a venue for Cheltenham Literature Festival, Cheltenham Science Festival, Cheltenham Music Festival, Cheltenham Folk Festival and Cheltenham Jazz Festival.
Everyman is also home to Encore Gallery, which is situated on the first floor. Work of local artists are exhibited throughout the year. Also on the first floor is the Smart Space Internet Cafe where you can use internet for free as long as you buy a drink or a snack. The County Bar offers drinks before and after each performance. Cafe Everyman is open from 9.30am Monday to Saturday serving a range of fresh cakes, sandwiches and hot and cold light meals. Matcham's Restaurant named after the theatre's designer offers pre-show suppers to make the evening of entertainment complete.
The box office at the Everyman is open Mon-Sat 9.30am-8.30pm (or until 6pm in August) and from 2 hours before the performance on Sunday. You can book in person at the box office or at one of Gloucestershire’s Tourist Information Centres or by telephone on 01242 572573. You can also book tickets by post to the box office with your booking details and a cheque made payable to the Everyman Theatre. For an extra 50p your tickets will be posted to you, otherwise enclose an SAE or call in to collect them. Tickets can be also booked online at the Everyman website at no extra charge.
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