Royal Hippodrome Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Royal Hippodrome Theatre is a theatre in Eastbourne
which dates back to 1883 making it the oldest theatre in the town. It was designed and built for the Theatre Manager and Impresario George Beaumont Loveday by the eminent theatre architect C J Phipps. The venue has been host to one of the longest running summer seasons in the country for several years, opening in March and closing in November.
was emerging as a highly fashionable destination for people, encouraged by the regular visits from the Prince of Wales
.
Its original name 'Theatre Royal and Opera House' survived for about 20 years but from around 1904 it became The Royal Hippodrome Theatre. Reasons for the change are unclear, but this seems to mirror a change in style and use. In the early days plays and light opera (including the touring company of the D'Oyly Carte) were presented but gradually these gave way to music hall
and variety shows.
Music hall
programmes had been staged in the Bourne Inn in nearby Pevensey Road until around 1900, and it is true that the Royal Hippodrome Theatre was - and still is - at the unfashionable end of town.
Vesta Tilley appeared on a bill here in May 1903 and the theatre attracted the star names throughout the music hall era: Harry Houdini
, Marie Lloyd
, Albert Chevalier
, Little Titch, Charlie Chaplin
, Gracie Fields
, Harry Lauder
, George Robey
, Flanagan & Allen and of course, Max Miller all worked this popular venue.
In the 1930s substantial remodelling of the foyer took place, but the auditorium remains much as it was in 1883. Summer rep. variety flourished from 1933 with the Eastbourne Players, a stock company: there was still a resident orchestra of 13 under the baton of Mr Alfred Brocklebank; and a permanent theatre staff of 40!
During part of World War 2 the theatre was closed - though not before a young Hylda Baker
had graced its boards in early 1942. The streets to the east became known as 'Hellfire Corner', unfortunately situated on the Luftwaffe's chosen bombing route. The Royal Hippodrome Theatre escaped a direct hit - almost miraculously, since the Lion pub and Caffyn's motor garage only yards away were obliterated - but blast damage caused much of the original ornate plaster work to be damaged beyond repair and removed.
Many local people still remember with fondness seeing the likes of Elsie & Doris Waters, Harry Secombe
, Tod Slaughter
on his farewell tour, Frankie Vaughan
, Norman Wisdom
, Russ Conway
and Bruce Forsyth
. They recall "It was our theatre ... the toffs went to the Devonshire Park, but the Hip was our theatre".
The theatre continued in private ownership until 1958 when, with declining audience numbers, the company was forced to look for a buyer. Around that time Southern TV were interested in purchasing the building for a TV studio but negotiations fell through and the building was bought by Eastbourne Borough Council.
Eastbourne Theatres
bought in a new producer to stage a show for the summer season that year and due to the refurbishments opened slightly later than normal. The shows producer was That's Entertainment Productions who staged the show "Those Variety Days".
In December 2008 Noel Edmunds and Sky1 came to the theatre to record the television programme "Noel's Christmas Presents" which was broadcast on Christmas Day.
In 2009 in an attempt to boost audience figures Matthews Productions returned to the Royal Hippodrome. This time though Matthews Productions was just the production company and Eastbourne Theatres
would continue to operate the venue. The 2010 summer season features Steve Hewlett, Georgia Lee, Wayne Champagne, Britain's Got Talent
stars Vizage and Drew Cameron.
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
which dates back to 1883 making it the oldest theatre in the town. It was designed and built for the Theatre Manager and Impresario George Beaumont Loveday by the eminent theatre architect C J Phipps. The venue has been host to one of the longest running summer seasons in the country for several years, opening in March and closing in November.
Origins and early years
The Royal Hippodrome Theatre opened on Thursday 2 August 1883. At the time EastbourneEastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
was emerging as a highly fashionable destination for people, encouraged by the regular visits from the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
.
Its original name 'Theatre Royal and Opera House' survived for about 20 years but from around 1904 it became The Royal Hippodrome Theatre. Reasons for the change are unclear, but this seems to mirror a change in style and use. In the early days plays and light opera (including the touring company of the D'Oyly Carte) were presented but gradually these gave way to music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
and variety shows.
Music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
programmes had been staged in the Bourne Inn in nearby Pevensey Road until around 1900, and it is true that the Royal Hippodrome Theatre was - and still is - at the unfashionable end of town.
Vesta Tilley appeared on a bill here in May 1903 and the theatre attracted the star names throughout the music hall era: Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
, Marie Lloyd
Marie Lloyd
Matilda Alice Victoria Wood was an English music hall singer, best known as Marie Lloyd. Her ability to add lewdness to the most innocent of lyrics led to frequent clashes with the guardians of morality...
, Albert Chevalier
Albert Chevalier
Albert Onesime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis Chevalier was an English comedian and actor.-Early life:Albert Chevalier was born in the Royal Crescent, in London's Notting Hill...
, Little Titch, Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
, Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields
Dame Gracie Fields, DBE , was an English-born, later Italian-based actress, singer and comedienne and star of both cinema and music hall.-Early life:...
, Harry Lauder
Harry Lauder
Sir Henry Lauder , known professionally as Harry Lauder, was an international Scottish entertainer, described by Sir Winston Churchill as "Scotland's greatest ever ambassador!"-Early life:...
, George Robey
George Robey
Sir George Edward Wade , better known by his stage name, George Robey, was an English music hall comedian and star. He was marketed as the "Prime Minister of Mirth".-Early life:...
, Flanagan & Allen and of course, Max Miller all worked this popular venue.
In the 1930s substantial remodelling of the foyer took place, but the auditorium remains much as it was in 1883. Summer rep. variety flourished from 1933 with the Eastbourne Players, a stock company: there was still a resident orchestra of 13 under the baton of Mr Alfred Brocklebank; and a permanent theatre staff of 40!
During part of World War 2 the theatre was closed - though not before a young Hylda Baker
Hylda Baker
Hylda Baker was a British comedienne, actress and music hall star.-Early life and career:Baker was born in Farnworth, near Bolton, Lancashire, the first of seven children. Her father, Harold Baker, was a painter and signwriter, who also worked part-time in the music halls as a comedian...
had graced its boards in early 1942. The streets to the east became known as 'Hellfire Corner', unfortunately situated on the Luftwaffe's chosen bombing route. The Royal Hippodrome Theatre escaped a direct hit - almost miraculously, since the Lion pub and Caffyn's motor garage only yards away were obliterated - but blast damage caused much of the original ornate plaster work to be damaged beyond repair and removed.
Many local people still remember with fondness seeing the likes of Elsie & Doris Waters, Harry Secombe
Harry Secombe
Sir Harry Donald Secombe CBE was a Welsh entertainer with a talent for comedy and a noted fine tenor singing voice. He is best known for playing Neddie Seagoon, the central character in the BBC radio comedy series The Goon Show...
, Tod Slaughter
Tod Slaughter
Tod Slaughter was an English actor, best known for playing over-the-top maniacs in macabre film adaptations of Victorian melodramas.-Ealy life:...
on his farewell tour, Frankie Vaughan
Frankie Vaughan
Frankie Vaughan, CBE, DL was an English singer of traditional pop music, who issued more than 80 recordings in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one of his early hits.-Life and career:...
, Norman Wisdom
Norman Wisdom
Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom, OBE was an English actor, comedian and singer-songwriter best known for a series of comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966 featuring his hapless onscreen character Norman Pitkin...
, Russ Conway
Russ Conway
Russ Conway was a British popular music pianist. Conway had 20 piano instrumentals in the UK Singles Chart between 1957 and 1963, including two number one hits.-Career:...
and Bruce Forsyth
Bruce Forsyth
Sir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson, CBE , commonly known as Bruce Forsyth, or Brucie, is an English TV personality...
. They recall "It was our theatre ... the toffs went to the Devonshire Park, but the Hip was our theatre".
The theatre continued in private ownership until 1958 when, with declining audience numbers, the company was forced to look for a buyer. Around that time Southern TV were interested in purchasing the building for a TV studio but negotiations fell through and the building was bought by Eastbourne Borough Council.
Present day
At the end 2007 Eastbourne Borough Council took the lease back from Matthews Productions. In 2008 Eastbourne Borough Council spent a considerable amount of money on the theatre to bring it up to date with current legislation. The venue was completely rewired and numerous improvements were made backstage. It also had a brand new emergency lighting and fire detection system installed.Eastbourne Theatres
Eastbourne Theatres
Eastbourne Theatres is the name of a council-owned theatre group responsible for four theatres in Eastbourne, England. The group is responsible for the Congress Theatre, Devonshire Park Theatre, Winter Garden and The Royal Hippodrome Theatre. The theatres together have a combined capacity of more...
bought in a new producer to stage a show for the summer season that year and due to the refurbishments opened slightly later than normal. The shows producer was That's Entertainment Productions who staged the show "Those Variety Days".
In December 2008 Noel Edmunds and Sky1 came to the theatre to record the television programme "Noel's Christmas Presents" which was broadcast on Christmas Day.
In 2009 in an attempt to boost audience figures Matthews Productions returned to the Royal Hippodrome. This time though Matthews Productions was just the production company and Eastbourne Theatres
Eastbourne Theatres
Eastbourne Theatres is the name of a council-owned theatre group responsible for four theatres in Eastbourne, England. The group is responsible for the Congress Theatre, Devonshire Park Theatre, Winter Garden and The Royal Hippodrome Theatre. The theatres together have a combined capacity of more...
would continue to operate the venue. The 2010 summer season features Steve Hewlett, Georgia Lee, Wayne Champagne, Britain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent is a British television talent show competition which started in June 2007 and originated from the Got Talent series. The show is produced by FremantleMedia's TalkbackThames and Simon Cowell's production company SYCOtv. The show is broadcast on ITV in Britain and TV3 in Ireland...
stars Vizage and Drew Cameron.