Theatre Royal to honour life patron Timothy West following his death

The Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds is set to name a box in honour of their life patron Timothy West, who died last week at the age of 90.

The theatre had his support and friendship, over many years, and the impact he had on the theatre had been enormous.

He was a patron of Theatre Royal’s Restoration (2005-2007) and led the Royal Millions campaign as a part of this.

He persuaded Judi Dench and Ian McKellen to join him and his wife Prunella Scales in a scratch performance of “The Importance of Being Earnest” and has, since then over the last 17 years, joined again to appear in fundraising galas to support the theatre’s ongoing fundraising needs.

One of his appearances was given from a wheelchair, as he had fallen off of his narrow boat but refused to not go onstage.

Tim was at the theatre when it celebrated its 200th birthday,  when he came with Prunella, and his son Sam, to appear on stage for an evening “in conversation’ – an evening of fun, laughter and conversation.

He hosted fundraising dinners, led tours of the theatre and also lent his “incomparable wisdom and wit”.