Everyman Theatre is a theatre based in Regent Street, Cheltenham. There are two auditoria in the building - the 675 seat main auditorium and the 60 seat Studio Theatre, originally named The Ralph Richardson Studio after Ralph Richardson. The Grade II listed building was designed by Frank Matcham and was originally called "The New Theatre and Opera House".It was opened on 1 October 1891 with a performance by Lilly Langtry In 1929, the New Theatre and Opera House gained a licence to screen projected film, becoming a multi-purpose theatre and cinema. The licence stipulated that the building must continue to present live performance as well as cinema. In World War II, the theatre became a Garrison Theatre, to civilians and the US soldiers based at Pittville. Many actors from London left the capital to escape the Blitz, bringing big names to Cheltenham. The Cheltenham Corporation ran the building after World War II until 1960. In 1959 the building closed and was at risk of being sold. The Cheltenham Theatre Association published an advertisement in September 1959 advertising "Urgent - Wanted £3, 000 at once, to re-open Cheltenham Opera House". In May 1960, the Cheltenham Theatre Association published another advertisement titled "Great News", which announced that the Everyman Theatre would open on Monday 22 May 1960 with a world premiere presentation of N.C. Hunter's "A Piece of Silver", starring Joyce Heron and Esmond Knight. The Cheltenham Theatre Association rebranded itself as the Everyman Theatre Association (ETA). It enjoyed booking advantages and raised money for the Theatre. Its 50th anniversary in 2010 was a great success; sadly, Covid lockdown prevented the 60th. Members enjoyed a variety of social activities, but, even before lockdown, support diminished and the ETA was wound up in late 2021. The benefits transferred to a new Priority Access Membership scheme administered directly by the theatre.
