Everyman Theatre

The Everyman Theatre stands in Regent Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Designed by Frank Matcham, it opened in 1891 as the New Theatre and Opera House. The Grade II listed building once seated around 1,500 people on bench seating. It later became a multi-purpose venue licensed for both live performance and cinema in 1929. During the Second World War, it served as a Garrison Theatre for civilians and American soldiers. Many London actors took refuge in Cheltenham during the Blitz, bringing well-known names to the town.

The theatre reopened in 1960 as the Everyman under the Everyman Theatre Association. Its early seasons featured household names such as William Gaunt, Steven Berkoff, Windsor Davies and Penelope Keith. After a major refurbishment in the 1980s, it reopened in 1986 with a production of *My Fair Lady*. The Everyman is the oldest surviving working Matcham Auditorium. In 2023, the pantomime *Mother Goose* removed an anti-vegan song following audience complaints.

Inside, the main auditorium now reflects Frank Matcham’s original decorative style. Bespoke wallpaper, carpets and fine art painting restore the 19th-century appearance. Cherubs have been replaced and the proscenium arch’s pink paint removed to reveal Scagliola marble. Above the arch, restored paintings of Comedy and Tragedy’s angels return the original design. The smaller Studio Theatre, once named after Ralph Richardson, remains a flexible space. The theatre continues to present plays, musicals and pantomimes to Cheltenham audiences.