A TOURIST experience has been opened at the country’s oldest working Georgian theatre by Welcome to Yorkshire’s Sir Gary Verity.

The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond has had a major overhaul of its tourist offering thanks to a generous legacy – which was match funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to total more than £500,000.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Sir Gary Verity attended the launch of the Georgian Theatre Royal Experience on Thursday, and told guests, volunteers and trustees the venue is a “real gem.”

“It is fantastic to be here in this real gem of the theatre.

“Visitors expect more now and the new theatre experience is going to appeal to all ages, and it boasts the oldest original piece of scenery in the country – possibly even the world.”

He added: “I have been blown away by the facilities on offer – we will certainly promote it and I hope to see hundreds and thousands of visitors here.”

Sir Gary also hinted Richmond could make it on a route for a future Tour de Yorkshire – but he said plans were in the very early stages.

The generous legacy had been made by Paul Iles, a former associate director of the theatre, and meant the theatre could pay for a redeveloped exhibition area behind the stage with the lovingly restored Woodland Scene – painted between 181 and 1836 - and the creation of a new education centre. The Woodland Scene was able to be restored thanks to a second grant of £71,000 from Heritage Lottery Fund.

Visitors can now discover the dressing rooms, hidden trapdoors, and tread the boards of the historic stage, as well as digital presentations and a range of exhibits relating to the theatre and the important part it played in Richmond’s Georgian past.

“After many months of planning and building work, we are delighted to unveil this exciting new attraction, which will hopefully draw visitors from miles around and appeal to all ages,” said the theatre’s chief executive, Clare Allen.

Deputy chairman of trustees Jim Brown added: “We are so grateful to the late Paul Iles for his legacy. "We were overwhelmed to discover how much he had left for us on his death. He was an experienced theatre manager who worked across the UK and in Australia, and had a special interest in the Georgian Theatre Royal.

“He had advised us in managing the theatre and we are proud to be able to name the new exhibition and education spaces in his honour.”

The Georgian Theatre Experience will be open from Monday to Saturday, February to the end of November and tours start on the hour from 10am to 4pm.