The Theatre Restaurant closes
June 26, 2008
The Theatre Restaurant in Sunderland is closing its doors on Saturday, which is a great shame as it provided the opportunity to have a meal while enjoying a show.
Popular in America, this was the first of its kind in the Northeast of England. The venue opened on the corner of John Street and High Street West in what is fast becoming Sunderland’s entertainment sector and incorporated a theatre and restaurant on the first floor.
With the popularity of musical theatre growing in recent years, this exciting new “house of Variety” offered a unique professional night of fun for those who love good food and fabulous entertainment
Behind the venue was Andrea Holmes and her family. Being brought up in a family that loved musicals, and grandparents who both sang, both in the clubs of the North East and for local amateur groups, it was only a matter of time before Andrea Holmes was caught up in the magic of musical theatre.
After training at the London Academy of Live and Performing Arts as a stage manager, and gaining a first class honours degree in performance arts studies, her passion for musicals drove her to seeking out a venue, which would be perfect to open a theatre restaurant. Over the past ten years she has dreamed of opening this type of venue to the public of the North East, unfortunately once opened the dream could not survive too long.
The venue was very much a family business, and would not have come to fruition at all if it were not for the investment of her father, local northeast businessman Ray Holmes. Ray has managed the renovation and practicalities of building a new theatre, and has tirelessly worked to develop this project from a dream to a reality.
My wife and I were taken to see their Christmas show Is A Wonderful Life by friends and it was amazing to see how the whole concept comes together. You were taken upstairs to a theatre where instead of rows of seats you have small tables , but it is easy for groups to re arrange the chairs for a chat until the show starts, when you needed to be back in your predetermined rows.
Waiters and waitresses quickly served you drinks and you enjoy your starter and main course before the show starts, then just sat back with a drink and enjoy the first act. At the interval you were served dessert before the second act. After the show there was a first class cabaret/sing along in which some of the cast and waitresses joined in that lasted just over thirty minutes.
It is a great shame that this venue cannot survive any longer and I am sure those of you have been appreciate the effort Andrea and her family put in to the Theatre Restaurant and are thankful for the opportunity (even if it was all to brief) to experience dinner theatre in the North East .
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