Newcastle Theatre Royal has opened its new bar, The Green Room, to the public this week as part of moves to make the iconic building open to more people for more of the time.
Fresh and welcoming, the stylish space at the former DatBar is located at 11 Market Street with access to and from the theatre on Level 1, between the Stalls Foyer and Grand Circle. Furnished with sumptuous velvets, sleek wood and greens and brass, it contains elements of luxury and opulence to cultivate a connection between the theatre and the wider public.
After 6 weeks of being open to audiences only for The Book of Mormon, SIX! and The Lightening Thief shows, the bar and hospitality space is now open to all between 11am to 11pm daily and is intended to be a place for the public to relax, stimulate conversation and creativity, and for patrons to reflect on performances they have just watched.
The theatre has been working with architects MawsonKerr and interior designers Design North, who created the visual strategy for the theatre’s new coffee and wine bar 100 Grey Street, which opened in December. Contractors Meldrum Facilities Ltd started work in April, stripping out fixtures and fittings, remodelling and decorating. The logo for The Green Room, signage and branding was designed by the theatre’s in-house designer.
Beautiful scenic wallpapers by award-winning artist Beth Travers of BOBO1325 provide unique and dramatic focal points on key walls. The artwork consists of provocative and captivating collections of paintings which all mark key parts of the landmark theatre’s long history: from the Macbeth raven, which symbolizes the play being shown before the fire of 1899 devastated the theatre; the pickpockets stealing a pocket watch and ring, which refers to The 40 Thieves – the opening show after the renovation; and the apples and daffodils, which represent the orchard where the theatre now stands.
Beth has worked with venues in the North East, notably Sachins Indian Restaurant, and Little Lobo sites in Whitley Bay and Gosforth. Her Shakespeare-inspired work took over the entryways and feature points within the London and Birmingham Grand Designs Live shows in 2024 to celebrate the 25th year. She won Gold Award at Fespa Printeriors with Ferndale, and Before They Pass Away, for Leila Lily’s. She was winner of Northern Design Awards for Yotel and Motley Bar in Manchester; and LuxeLife Hospitality Awards for design work.
The choice of name comes from the theatre’s own Green Room relaxation space for actors, and it is in honour of the original building architects: father and son duo John and Benjamin Green who designed the theatre as part of Richard Grainger’s grand design for Newcastle city centre in the early 19th Century.
Siobhan Lightfoot, Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Director of Operations, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our Landmark theatre and our standing in the heart of the city. We opened our own hospitality space, The Green Room, because a key part of our strategy is to make sure our iconic Grade I listed building is open to more people for more of the time. As a charity, it’s important for us to continue to diversify our income streams so we can continue to create moments of magic on and off stage, and memories that last a lifetime for theatregoers and members of the public.
“We advocate Culture for all – our vision for The Green Room is that it will become a cultural hub for the city – a place to where members of the public can relax and socialise, and for patrons can enjoy our theatre a little longer.”
The Green Room is at 11 Market Street, Newcastle and is open 11am – 11pm daily. Visitors through the day will be able to book show tickets at the Box Office Kiosk located at the doors to the right of the bar, which link The Green Room with the stalls foyer.
Beth Travers said: “If someone told 10-year-old me watching the pantomime at the Theatre Royal that one day I would be designing for them, I’d have laughed. Yet here we are, in The Green Room where Regency meets mischief, turning the walls into wonderful stories that have been created from the Theatre’s archives.
“Theatre is escapism. It’s where art, truth and fantasy collide. Ater working closely with the theatre team, Design North and MawsonKerr, The Green Room’s scenic wallpaper came to life: Youth, Love, Folly, Final Act and IYKYK (if you know, you know) have been designed for those who want to live within the stories of these four walls for just a little bit longer.”
MawsonKerr co-founder Will Mawson said: “The Green Room was conceived as new assembly space reconnecting a series of previously annexed public spaces and connecting the theatre further to the city. This has been an exciting continuation of conversations with the Theatre Royal on engagement with the public and extending the facilities within the theatre. The Green Room has its own personality which is tied respectfully to the historic building with nods to the past as with the stories told in Beth’s artwork.”
Charlotte Allan, Design North Associate Interior Designer, said: “Collaborating with the Theatre Royal to create such an innovative space is a designer’s dream. We have created an interior that feels both calming and welcoming, with elements of luxury and opulence that will cultivate a connection between the Theatre and the wider public. Beth’s artwork perfectly encapsulates this vision. The bespoke wallpaper tells stories; it keeps the Theatre’s history alive.”
More information is available on our website: thegreenroombar.co.uk.
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