Published:
4:35 PM February 16, 2021
The Guildhall of St George is believed to be the only surviving theatre where Shakespeare performed
- Credit: Denise Bradley
Stephen Fry is backing a new vision to conserve the only surviving theatre where Shakespeare performed.
But the proposals were turned down. It comes after bids for lottery funding for the 15th Century building were also turned down in 2017 and 2019.
Now the Shakespeare s Guildhall Trust has published its own proposals for the future of the landmark, which stretches from King Street to the Great Ouse waterfront and includes a theatre where Shakespeare is believe to have trod the boards in 1591.
Ivor Rowlands outside the Guildhall of St George in King s Lynn
- Credit: Chris Bishop
Campaigners have vowed to press on with their vision of breathing new life into Britain s oldest working theatre despite its latest funding setback.
West Norfolk council included the restoration of the Guildhall of St George in a £21m bid for a share of the government s Future High Streets Fund to regenerate King s Lynn.
It comes after two applications for lottery funding to restore the 15th Century building, the last surviving theatre where Shakespeare performed, were also turned down.
Ivor Rowlands, founder and chair of the Shakespeare s Guildhall Trust (SGT), said: It s really very sad that King s Lynn has missed out on this opportunity, and it s tragic that the borough council has once again failed to secure funding for St George s Guildhall.