In 1768, Bath was the first city outside of London to be granted a royal patent for a theatre. Theatre Royal first opened in October 1805 but a fire in 1862 led to a new theatre being erected on the same site. Bath's Theatre Royal survived the Blitz unscathed and has thrived ever since. Check out the Theatre Royal website http://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/ for details of their innovative Ustinov Studio and productions from the Egg theatrical company.