Richmond Theatre has surprisingly shut down throughout the summer – a period it would normally be expected to cash in from the school holidays and a rise in tourism.

Bosses at the Grade II listed theatre said the closure is linked to the need to carry out essential maintenance on the building, which dates back to 1899.

Supporters of the theatre might have expected that major works would have been carried out during the pandemic, which forced the closure of theatres and other attractions for more than a year.

Most leisure and hospitality businesses are keen to get people through the door at the moment in order to make up for the losses suffered during Covid-19.

The theatre has been used in numerous film and TV productions, including, most recently, the hit US comedy from Apple TV, Ted Lasso.

A spokesman for the theatre, which is part of the Ambassador Theatre Group, said no shows have had to be cancelled in order to allow the work to go ahead.

The theatre is due to open with a bang in September with a theatre production of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a joyous comedy with a star-studded cast led by Hayley Mills, Paul Nicholas, and Rula Lenska.

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The spokesman said: "We have essential building maintenance going on during this time – we look forward to reopening our doors to the public on September 5 for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

'This has been in the diary for a long time so nothing was programmed to be on during this time."

The current building was designed by renowned UK theatre architect Frank Matcham and opened as the Theatre Royal and Opera House in 1899. It remains the best preserved example of Matcham's work in London and is Grade II listed by Historic England.

It is actually the third theatre to have been built on the site, the first theatre having opened in 1718.