Room dedicated to Briers at Theatre Royal

04/03/2008

Celebrated actor Richard Briers has opened a room named in his honour at a North-East theatre.

The Richard Briers Room at the Theatre Royal marks the 50th anniversary of his first performance at the venue.

It will be used as a study area for those interested in the history of the Theatre Royal and the other theatres of Newcastle.

Richard Briers, famed for his role as Tom Good in The Good Life, is patron of the Friends of the Theatre Royal and is a great favourite with Newcastle audiences.

He first performed at the Theatre Royal in 1958 in Gilt and Gingerbread.

Mr Briers said: "The Theatre Royal is one of our most distinguished theatres with which I have a very long association, having first appeared here in 1958.

advertisement"To have a room named for me in this great old theatre is a splendid honour.

Normally one has to be dead to be acknowledged in this way, so to be alive to see it is especially pleasing."

The Richard Briers Room is supported by Northumbrian Water, a company that has championed and supported the Theatre Royal for many years.

Philip Bernays, chief executive of the Theatre Royal said: "The Richard Briers Room will be used as a History and Heritage study space for the many people interested in the history of the Theatre Royal and that of other theatres on Tyneside.

"We are enormously proud to have Richard Briers here to officially declare the room open."

The Northern Echo - www.thenorthernecho.co.uk