IT is a theatre with a history which has painted our doorsteps for over a hundred years....and more.

Fire hasn’t stopped its continuing success, nor two world wars or a change in people’s leisure pursuits.

The Theatre Royal Windsor has had a new lick of paint for the next generation of stage lovers.

On Wednesday, I was invited to take a tour of the newly refurbished ‘Royal’.

House manager, Deborah Gallagher, showed me around the theatre which looks vibrant and welcoming...but resonates with the original Edwardian feel of this marvellous old lady of Windsor.

She said: “The refurbishment has had to be done while we were shut for three weeks in total.

“The colour schemes are in mole’s breath, gold and cream and it brings out the crowns in the reliefs after consultants were brought in to highlight the Edwardian feel.”

Most of the seats have been re-upholstered in ridiccio red, but there are a few still to be completed.

Owner, impresario, Bill Kenwright, has splashed out £150,000 on the upgrade.

A revamped Circle Bar now hosts prints from the former darker corridors where actors gaze down on theatre-goers.

We gathered in the upper bar following the tour just as the ‘Royal’s former owner John Council’s daughter, Elizabeth joined us. She walked straight up to one of the production prints on the wall and said to me: “ Look there’s my mum.” It was Mary Kerridge playing Anastasia circa 1952. I said: “Do you like the upgrade.” She said: “Mum and dad would have liked it, I certainly do.”

Here’s to the ‘Royal’ and a another century of brilliant productions for the community.