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Hastings Theatres and Halls Pier Pavilion - Gaiety Theatre - Empire Theatre / Hippodrome - Royal Opera House - The Theatre / Wesley Chapel
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Empire Theatre
of Varieties, Hastings
Above - Drawing of the Empire Theatre of Varieties, Hastings - From 'The Playgoer' 1901 - Courtesy Iain Wotherspoon. Note: This appears to be the drawing that was used for the front cover of the Empire's Programmes, albeit edited and coloured in (See Below).
"As for the Hippodrome theatre in Hastings, nothing is said of its use as a cinema prior to conversion to an amusement arcade. Only the ground floor is used as an amusement arcade. The upper level being converted into a snooker hall and bingo Hall. The ground floor was completely gutted and no trace (at least in the public areas) remains of its original use. While I have never been in the bingo hall personally I have seen photos that imply the seating for the bingo is in fact part of the old circle and the photos clearly showed that some of the original decor and moldings from the original theatre remain." Text in quotes above Courtesy Paul Hatch. "The Empire Hastings became the Hippodrome circa 1907 when it became part of walter de frese's Southern Hipodromes. It later became the De Luxe Cinema but was presenting Variety acts as part of the cinema programme as late as 1947, One act I recalled working there was; "The Avolans" a roller skating act." TAbove text in quotes courtesy Alan Chudey. Right - Programme for the Empire Theatre of Varieties, 2nd September 1901 - generously donated by Mr. John Moffatt. |
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Above - An early engraving of the Gaiety Theatre, Hastings - Courtesy Terry Kirtland
Right - Gaiety Theatre Hastings Programme for October 25th 1926. "The old Gaiety Theatre's original 1972 conversion to a triple screen cinema had the two extra screens situated directly under the circle seating. While the ceiling at the back of the stalls may have been lowered, the seating capacity of the main theatre/screen was unaffected. However in 1985 a major building adaptation took place (I only know the approx year as I remember seeing 'Morons from outerspace' while the building work was in progress) This building work saw a major downsizing of the original theatre. At this time the cinema lost its stalls and its original entrance, the entrance was relocated to the left corner of the building and much of the ground floor sold as a retail unit (to a drugstore chain) I haven't been in the cinema for over 10 years but from the listing on the Odeon website, it has since been further converted to 4 screens." Above text in quotes Courtesy Paul Hatch. |
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Above - A postcard for George Dance's production of 'The Whip' whilst showing at the Gaiety Theatre, Hastings. This show was first performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1909 - Full details here. |
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Above - The Gaiety Theatre Hastings, from a Programme October 25th 1926. |
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The Pier Pavilion, Hastings
Above - The Pier Pavilion, Hastings. Built 1881. Demolished - 1951
Right - A review from 'The Stage' of 1898 for Arthur Lloyd's new Farcical, Musical Play 'An Amateur Detective' performed at the Pier Pavilion, Hastings for the first time on Monday May the 23rd 1898. It is easy to dismiss the Court Players as a by-word
for "Tat" ; true that it was not unusual to see a red chintz
table cloth used as curtains one week and a table cloth the next,
true that the flats were often nailed together rather then cleat and
lines used and that the Hanson carpenter having removed those nails
at a week-end strike had to straiten them out for re-use rather then
buy new nails. However, on the basis that you get what you pay for,
by far and large Harry Hanson gave value for money, and audiences
returned week after week to see his plays. Above Text kindly written for this site by Alan Chudley. Arthur Lloyd and his wife Katty King played the Pier Pavilion in 1888, a notice in the ERA of the 8th of December that year says: 'PIER PAVILION - Manager, Mr J. D. Hunter. - This is the second week of Mr Arthur Lloyd and Miss Katty King's visit. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday they played The Rival Lovers, in which Mr J. D. Hunter appeared. The comedietta Her First Appearance, in which Mr Arthur Lloyd, Miss Katty King, and Mr J. E. Cowell took part, was also performed. For Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (to-night) we are promised the farcical comedy Major Baggs. Trillo, ventriloquist, is also here.' - The ERA, 8th December 1888 - Courtesy BF. Arthur Lloyd and his son and daughter are know to have played here in 1897. A notice in the ERA of the 29th of May reads: 'HASTINGS PIER PAVILION.- Entertainment Manager, Mr J. D. Hunter: - A welcome visit is paid here this week by Mr Arthur Lloyd and party which include Mr Harry King-Lloyd and Miss Annie King-Lloyd, who, in conjunction with Mr Hunter's company, produced on Monday Mr Lloyd's musical comedy Our Party ; or, the Nobleman in Disguise, a piece which forms a pleasant medium for introducing any required amount of comic sketches, character songs, or graceful dancing. Mr J. D. Hunter played Marmaduke Mugg, a parvenu, with unctuous humour and amusing effect; Miss Annie King-Lloyd played with sparkling vivacity as his daughter Gertrude; Miss Eva Bayley displayed bright humour and lively talent as Aunt Meg, Gertrude's aunt; Mr Arthur Lloyd was droll as Jimmy Ferguson, an adventurer, and gave a selection from his repertoire, followed by Mr Harry King-Lloyd in character songs, which won much applause; Mr Harry J. Crane gave assistance to the plot as Montague. The guests masquerading as dukes and duchesses, but in reality members of Montague's variety show, were played by Messrs John A. Thomson, C. W. Spencer, Carter Bligh, Misses Blanche Bayley and Cherry Wardroper. Mr Chas Hawker as Mugg's servant complete the cast.' - The ERA, 29th May 1897 - Courtesy BF. Whilst at the Pier Pavilion in
June of the same year, 1897,
the manager of the Theatre took the company on a picnic which was
reported in the ERA on the 5th of June saying:
'MR J. D. HUNTER, the popular manager and comedian, of the Pier Pavilion,
Hastings, last Thursday drove his company in a brake and four horses
to Bodiam
Castle, a fine old ruin twelve miles from Hastings, surrounded
by a moat. There, in the castle, they had a jolly picnic, the caterers
being Mr and Mrs Smith, of the Pier Refreshments Buffets. The guests
included Mr and Mrs J. D. Hunter, Mr
Arthur Lloyd, Miss
Annie King-Lloyd, Mr Harry
King-Lloyd, the Misses Eva and Blanche Bayley, Miss Cherry Wardroper,
the Misses Katty, Lilly, and Dulcie King-Lloyd, Messrs C. W. Spencer,
Charles Hawker, Carter Bligh, Harry Krane, Mason Warboys, John Thomson,
&c.'' - The ERA, 5th June 1897
- Courtesy BF. Arthur Lloyd also performed at the Pier Pavilion Theatre in 1898, and he is known to have performed in Hastings in 1879 1886 1888 1890 1898 sometimes when touring with his popular review 'Two Hours of Genuine Fun'. |
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The Theatre / Wesley Chapel, Great Bourne Street, Hastings
Above - Postcard of The Theatre, Hastings, which was later converted into the Wesley Chapel. The card was sent in 1907 and is titled Hastings 'New & Old' The Theatre, in Great Bourne Street, Hastings was built by Mr. Frederick Brooke in 1825 after obtaining a license from the Corporation of Hastings to perform Tragedies, Comedies, Interludes, Operas and Farces. The Theatre opened on August 18th that year with a cast of eight including Mr. and Mrs. Brooke, their two daughters and four other mail actors in a production of 'As You Like it' and 'A Roland for an Oliver.' Followed by Mrs. Brooke delivering an Epilogue. The Prologue was delivered by Mr. Brooke. The prices of one of the first performances at the little Theatre were 4s for the Lower Boxes, 3s for the Upper Boxes, 2s for the Pit, and 6d for the Gallery.
Above - Rear of the Postcard of The Theatre, Hastings, sent in 1907. The Theatre wasn't overly successful however and by 1830 a Mr. Edward had taken over the management of the building and, opening it on just a three nights a week basis, produced the three plays; "The Green-eyed Monster ", "Five in One" and "The Sergeant's Wife." These, according to the papers of the day, were not very well attended either. The following year Coplestone Coward Hodges took over the running of the Theatre, and then later Charles Waldegrave and Thomas Styles became licensees but their luck was little better and by 1833 the Theatre was sold to a committee of local Wesleyans who set about converting the little Theatre into a Chapel. For an image of the building in 2004 Click Here... Much of the research for the Wesley Chapel and former
Theatre was originally undertaken by J. Manwaring Baines, for many years
curator of the Hastings Museum, and author of 'Historic Hastings,' published
by F J Parsons Ltd, from which the above information was gleaned. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me Here.. |
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The Royal Opera House, Hastings The Royal Opera House, Hastings was built in 1897 and was operational until 1921. The Theatre was bombed in 1942 and subsequently demolished. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me Here.. |
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The
Empire Theatre of Varieties, Hastings was built by 
The
Gaiety Theatre was built by 
There
was a summer Theatre at the landward end of Hastings pier which was
still operational in the mid 1960's. This Theatre was a home base
for Harry Hanson's Court Players, who often moved into the White Rock
Pavilion during the Winter Months.
