Royal Theatre (Victoria, British Columbia)

Royal Theatre
The Royal Theatre in Victoria, British Columbia
Location805 Broughton Street
Victoria, British Columbia
V8W 1E5
Coordinates48°25′23.6″N 123°21′44.4″W / 48.423222°N 123.362333°W / 48.423222; -123.362333
Built1913
Original useProscenium Arch Theatre intended for Drama and Concert production
Current useSame
ArchitectWilliam D'Oyly Hamilton Rochfort and Eben W. Sankey
Governing bodyThe Royal and McPherson Theatre Society
WebsiteOfficial Site
Designated1987

The Royal Theatre is a proscenium arch theatre and concert hall located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It was designed in 1912 by William D'Oyly Hamilton Rochfort and Eben W. Sankey. Rochfort was very active as an architect in Victoria from 1908 until he left for the war in 1914. Opened in 1913, the theatre has operated under many guises, including cinema (1917–1981; operated during some of that time by Famous Players), in 1972 the Municipalities of Oak Bay, Saanich and Victoria purchased the theatre from Famous Players. Since 1982, it has become one of the finest touring destinations in Canada with a fully modernized production department and box office system, while maintaining the grace and style that an early 20th century provides.

The theatre was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1987.[1]

Today, the theatre has a capacity of 1,416. It is a popular venue, staging concerts, and musicals, featuring the best of local and international productions.