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____________________________________________________________________________________________ Theatres and Halls in Eastbourne, on England's South Coast Theatre Royal and Opera House - Royal Hippodrome - Pier Theatre - Congress Theatre
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Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Seaside Road, Eastbourne Formerly The Theatre Royal and Opera House
Above - The Royal Hippodrome, Eastbourne in its original guise as the Theatre Royal and Opera House in 1902 - From 'The Playgoer' 1902 - Courtesy Iain Wotherspoon.
Right - Poster for Horatio and Arthur Lloyd at the Theatre Royal, Eastbourne in 1886, just three years after the Theatre opened, in Arthur Lloyd's 'Two Hours Genuine Fun.' The poster is one of a large collection of original Lloyd Posters collected since the mid 1800s by members of the family and found recently after being lost for 50 years. To see all these posters click the Poster Index here...
Left - The Auditorium of the Theatre Royal, Eastbourne in 1902 - From 'The Playgoer' 1902 - Courtesy Iain Wotherspoon. Right - Programme for The Royal Hippodrome, Eastbourne in 1960. By the late 1980s, the Theatre was becoming tired and so were the audiences. Plans were put together for its demolition but local opposition in the early 1990s and a restoration fund headed by Russ Conway, who then lived in the town, raised sufficient funds to have the proscenium arch and boxes of the Theatre restored. This led to the Theatre being Listed and its future secured. The Theatre currently seats 643 and you may like to visit its own Website here... |
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Above - Auditorium of the Royal Hippodrome, Eastbourne in 1989 - Courtesy Ted Bottle |
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Within sound of the sea - The Theatre Royal, Eastbourne - From the Playgoer 1902.
Left - Poster for 'All Smiles' at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne - Courtesy Stephen Wischhusen. In the centre of the extensive front of the theatre an ornamental portico marks the main entrance, palms, flowers and pictures brighten the lofty vestibule, and a draped female figure holds aloft an electric light to guide patrons up the broad, richly carpeted staircase to the dress circle. The interior is very compact and comfortable, and from every seat a good view of the stage may be obtained. The upholstering is in peacock blue plush. The general decoration is carried out in cream and gold. The ceiling is painted to represent the sky, the expanse of blue being relieved by white fleecy clouds, and the whole is illuminated by tinted pendant electric lights. Above text from 'The Playgoer' 1902 - Courtesy Iain Wotherspoon.
Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed in Eastbourne 1886 Horatio Lloyd is known to have performed in Eastbourne 1886 |
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Above - Eastbourne Pier and New Music Pavilion
The Pier Theatre was added in 1901, replacing the 1888 Pavilion (Shown Above). After a major fire destroyed part of the Theatre in the 1970s it was converted to a 'Show Bar'.
Left and right - 'Star Wagon' A variety programme for the Pier Theatre, Eastbourne in 1951. |
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Congress Theatre, Carlisle Road, Eastbourne
Left and Right - Programme Details for 'Fol-de-Rols' at the Congress Theatre in its opening year - 1963. |
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