Theatre Royal, Edinburgh

The Theatre Royal in Edinburgh has stood on two sites. The first opened in 1769 on Princes Street in Shakespeare Square, near the east end of the thoroughfare. Thomas Hosmer Shepherd rebuilt it in 1830. The second site was on Broughton Street, replacing an earlier circus building. The theatre carried a royal patent, allowing it to perform plays and operas. Robert Henry Wyndham managed the Broughton Street theatre after 1860. The theatre’s history includes notable figures and events. David Ross opened the first theatre in 1769. Harriet Pye Esten became manager in 1792, and Stephen Kemble later regained rights. Sarah Siddons’s son Henry Siddons took over in 1809, followed by his wife Harriet. The theatre moved to Broughton Street after the Princes Street site closed in 1859. It burned down several times but was rebuilt each time. Inside, the Theatre Royal presents a mix of drama and opera. The auditorium seats an audience close to the stage. A wardrobe and production centre once stood nearby. Playbills from the 19th century show performances of works like *The Lady of the Lake*. The building’s history reflects Edinburgh’s changing theatrical landscape.