Theatre Royal Newcastle
Reviewed by Sandra Little
The Green Room is not the latest stage production at Theatre Royal in Newcastle, but it is in fact a new bar which has just opened as part of developments at the theatre. This bar is on the corner of Grey Street and Market Street and is accessible both from Market Street (daily from 11am until 11pm) and directly from the theatre for pre and post theatre drinks when performances are taking place. This addition to the theatre not only takes its name from the room that performers use for relaxing but is also named after the original designers involved in the building of the theatre, namely John and Benjamin Green.
I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the launch of this new venue and had a thoroughly enjoyable experience! It’s a very stylish and contemporary space with a light and airy feel. There are pale green tiles and a fabulous chain mail feature above the bar. This feature is also replicated in a more intimate area where there is a grand piano in one corner and space for corporate events. Some warmth is added to the décor in The Green Room with the rich rust and dark green tones used for the upholstery.
In addition to the gorgeous chain mail the other stand out feature of the décor in this bar is the unique wallpaper frieze designed by a local award winning artist called Beth Travers. Within the landscape on the frieze Beth has included a host of interesting features linked to the history of this theatre that opened in 1837.A teacup in the frieze for example, is a nod to the fact that ladies disguised their sip of whisky in a teacup! Meanwhile apple trees in the frieze remind us that the theatre stands on land that was once an orchard. There are several other intriguing and significant additions including a parrot, a raven and a hot air balloon. It is very clear that Beth has done some in depth research for this project.
One aim of this new addition to the Theatre Royal is to attract members of the public and also patrons attending the theatre and I’ve no doubt that it will have no difficulty in achieving this aim. There is an extensive wine, beer and spirit menu available alongside tea and coffee. However I do think that maybe in the future some food in the form of small plates or charcuterie would be a great addition to this lovely bar and would enhance even further the delightful experience that is drinks in The Green Room.
