The venue's dedicated production facility, TR2, is located on the banks of the River Plym and features world-class set construction and costume workshops.
The Lyric auditorium is designed with a horseshoe shape that mimics traditional opera house acoustics, seating over 1,300 people.
The Drum theatre utilizes a flexible staging layout, allowing directors to configure the seating and stage orientation for every production.
The building was formally opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret in 1982.
TRP operates a 'Young Company' program which provides professional theatre training to hundreds of local youths annually.
The Theatre Royal Plymouth is the largest and best-attended regional producing theatre in the UK. It features three distinct performance spaces: The Lyric, which hosts large-scale West End touring productions; The Drum, a studio theatre for contemporary and experimental works; and The Lab, a creative space for community engagement and development. Designed by architect Peter Moro, the building opened in 1982 to replace the original Grand Theatre. The complex functions as a registered charity and operates its own production workshops on-site at its Production and Learning Centre, TR2. It serves as a primary cultural hub for the South West, commissioning and co-producing new plays that frequently transfer to London. The venue's modern brutalist-influenced architecture stands as a landmark on Royal Parade. It integrates accessible facilities across all performance levels for diverse audiences.
The elevated walkway and exterior balcony area facing the Royal Parade offers the best perspective of the building's striking geometric facade.
Arrive early to enjoy refreshments in the ground-floor café, which features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Royal Parade.
Check the theatre's digital 'What's On' calendar before your trip, as The Drum often hosts niche shows that sell out quickly.
Use the venue's online 'visual story' guide if you have accessibility requirements or prefer a quiet environment upon arrival.
Do not wait until the day of the show to purchase tickets for popular touring musicals, as these sell out weeks in advance.
Smart casual; avoid overly casual sportswear. Mobile phones must be silenced and screens dimmed during performances.
