Perhaps the most disastrous theatre fire in Britain’s history occurred in 1887 when Exeter’s Theatre Royal—built to replace another theatre that had burned down just two years earlier—burnt down during an evening performance. Around 200 people were killed and about 100 children were orphaned. Many of the victims were from the city’s poorer areas and had bought reduced price tickets for the second half of the play only. This podcast examines the circumstances behind the fire, as well as the positive safety changes that were made to theatre design after the tragic events of September 5, 1887.