Our second class trip was to Richmond Theatre which is in the Richmond area of London. We saw a show called 89 Charing Cross Road which was a favorite of the people of London with a lot of rich history.

 

 

Richmond Theatre was built in 1899 as the ‘Theatre Royal and Opera House’ and was refurbished in 1991. Richmond Theatre was established as one of the most successful theatres in the UK, presenting a wide range of quality drama, musicals, opera, dance and family entertainment for years. Richmond Theatre welcomes 250,000 people to over 40 theatre productions, performing for about 49 weeks out of 52 weeks each year. Richmond Theatre is a venue for local arts organizations and charities and for the public to enjoy all things theatre.

89 Charing Cross Road was based on Helene Haniff’s novel about the unique relationship between a book keeper and his client who lives in New York. The bookkeeper and NYC woman established a strong friendship through letters from the 1940’s-1960’s from her signing out and having books shipped to her from a London bookstore.

The two eventually wanted to meet along with the other employees in the bookstore, but time, finances and life always got in the way. Unfortunately, right when the woman was going to meet the bookkeeper, he past away. She eventually made her journey to London to visit to bookstore herself.

The next day after we saw 89 Charing Cross Road, we went to visit the actual site of the play in the Charing Cross area of London…

 

…now, its a McDonalds…

 

Sources: http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/history/