Royal Hippodrome Theatre

Royal Hippodrome Theatre
Theatre Royal and Opera House
Address Seaside Road
Eastbourne, East Sussex
 United Kingdom
Coordinates 50°46′08″N 0°17′32″E / 50.7689°N 0.2922°E / 50.7689; 0.2922
Owner Eastbourne Borough Council
Designation Grade II listed
Type Variety theatre
Capacity 630 on 3 levels
Construction
Opened 2 August 1883
Rebuilt 1990 proscenium arch and boxes refurbished
Architect Charles J. Phipps
Website
www.royalhippodrome.com

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.[1]

History of the theatre

Origins and early years

The Royal Hippodrome Theatre opened on Thursday 2 August 1883. At the time Eastbourne was emerging as a highly fashionable destination, encouraged by 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. The reason for the name change is unclear, but it 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 these gradually 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.

The music hall star Vesta Tilley appeared on a bill here in May 1903. The theatre also attracted several other star names during the music hall era including Harry Houdini, Marie Lloyd, Albert Chevalier, Little Tich, Charlie Chaplin, Gracie Fields, Harry Lauder, George Robey, Flanagan & Allen and Max Miller.

Although the foyer was substantially remodelled during the 1930s, the auditorium remains much as it was in 1883. From 1933 summer repertory variety flourished with the Eastbourne Players (a stock company) – there was a resident orchestra of 13 under the baton of Mr Alfred Brocklebank and a permanent theatre staff of 40.

The theatre closed for part of the Second World War, though not before a young Hylda Baker had graced its boards in early 1942. The streets to the east became known as "Hellfire Corner" as they were heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe. The theatre itself escaped a direct hit, almost miraculously since the Lion pub and Caffyn's motor garage only yards away were obliterated; however blast damage caused much of the theatre's original ornate plaster work to be damaged beyond repair, and later this had to be removed.

Many local people still remember with fondness seeing the likes of Elsie and 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.

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 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 show's producer was That's Entertainment Productions who staged the show Those Variety Days.

In December 2008 Noel Edmunds and the television channel Sky1 came to the theatre to record the 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 they were just the production company with Eastbourne Theatres continuing to operate the venue. The 2010 summer season featured Steve Hewlett, Georgia Lee, Wayne Champagne and Britain's Got Talent stars Vizage and Drew Cameron.[2]

For the summer Season 2012, it was decided that a different production company should produce the summer show and so Lee Moon Productions produced Sentimental Journey with headliner Jimmy Cricket. A different promoter was also used – this time the Eastbourne Hospitality Association itself promoted the show amongst the many hotels in the town. The season ran from May to September. The Royal Hippodrome Trust was supposed to be running the theatre from 2012, but owing to circumstances they were not in a position to run the season and so the local hoteliers persuaded the council to support it.

In 2013 the Trust were again asked whether they would be able to take over the running of the theatre, but they were unable to, so the council looked for an alternative solution. On 6 February 2013 the Cabinet of the council unanimously agreed a proposal led by two hoteliers to take over the running of the theatre on a licence for one year (RHT Management) with the aim of setting up a community interest company in 2014. The proposal also included a plan to relocate the Eastbourne Hospitality Association to the theatre so that a part-time tourist information centre could be operated from the building, giving it a more open presence. In 2013 the summer show Seaside Specialwas being produced by Trapdoor Productions LTD – a new professional company .Trapdoor Productions LTD returned after their success in 2013 with their new production of "There's Magic In The Music" and are returning again this year with their production of "Hooray for Hollywood".The Royal Hippodromes mascot " Henrietta Hippo" started a new kids morning entertainment show in September 2013 which happened every month until December 2013. It was announced in December 2013 that "Henrietta Hippos Fun House" will be back for the whole of next year. The show is also co-produced by Trapdoor Productions. A local summer school has been run by since 2013 by Trapdoor Theatre School. The production in 2013 was Just So by Stiles and Drewe , the production in 2014 was Godspell by Stephen Schwartz. The 2015 production is yet to be announced.Tickets are on sale at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre box office or at www.royalhippodrome.com . Also RHT Management have arranged for a number of one night specials to celebrate the theatre's 130th anniversary. A new website has been launched and the future of the theatre now has a plan and a focus.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Eastbourne Borough Council - Theatres". Retrieved 15 October 2007.
  2. ↑ The Argus, 26 March 2010. "Hooked on Laughter". Retrieved 12 May 2013
  3. ↑ Eastbourne Herald, 29 March 2013 – "Licence to entertain at refurbished Hippodrome". Retrieved 12 May 2013
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