We spoke with Richard who recently dedicated a seat to his late mum and grandad who introduced him to theatre. Seat B20 in the Dress Circle holds a special place in Richard’s heart.
“This was where my mum sat when she saw me play Rod in York Light’s production of Avenue Q – which was the first time I performed on the York Theatre Royal Main Stage all the way back in 2014!”
Richard’s mum, Sally, treasured every show programme and kept every ticket stub for the shows she saw Richard in. When tidying her belongings last year, Richard came across the Avenue Q programme and ticket stub in pristine condition.
“My mum even made me sign the programme, saying one day it will be worth something.”
Richard has since performed many times on the York Theatre Royal Main Stage, including playing Nicely Nicely Johnson in York Light’s production of Guys and Dolls. Theatre is a big part of Richard’s life, and he explained that theatre runs in the family. “My grandad, Jim, had a theatre company and that was where my mum and dad met – this feels very much a full circle moment to be able to dedicate a seat to them.”
Richard and his family are very pleased to be able to remember Sally and Jim, who loved theatre, by dedicating a seat in the beautiful York Theatre Royal auditorium.
Naming a seat in our auditorium can be a unique and heartfelt gift – a wonderful opportunity to mark a special occasion, honour a memory, or celebrate your passion for the theatre – all the while supporting our continuous work as producers and presenters of world class theatre productions, here in York.
You can dedicate a seat for 10 years with a donation of £400. Please contact our Development Team on fundraising@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk for more details.
