Built by architect CJ Phipps for theatre impresario George Beaumont Loveday, Eastbourne’s Royal Hippodrome is the town’s oldest theatre and has hosted names including Charlie Chaplin, Max Miller, Harry Houdini, Gracie Fields and many more besides. Although well-known for its summer season, in recent years the theatre has failed to live up to its early promise. But that could be about to change. Darren Weir, a partner in the Royal Hippodrome Trust, tells us how...

“In its day, Eastbourne Royal Hippodrome was very well-known. Bruce Forsyth, Des O’Connor – all the stars who’ve played the London Palladium have done the Hippodrome. The theatre was a training ground for a lot of big names.

“It was built 130 years ago in Seaside Road when it was known as the New Theatre Royal and Opera House. The name was changed around 20 years later but no one quite knows why. The Duke of Devonshire refused to have it built on his land because he was rather snobby about the theatre but when he saw how popular it was – three shows a night at that time – he decided to build the Devonshire Park to compete.

If it wasn’t for the Hippodrome, we wouldn’t have any of the other theatres in Eastbourne.

“Because it was built as an opera house, the acoustics are brilliant. If someone whispers on stage, you can hear it clearly in the Grand Circle – we know because we tested it the other day. It has a proper dance floor on the third floor too.

“It’s been a sadly under-used resource for a long time but we’re hoping to change that. The theatre has been in and out of different ownership for years – most recently, Eastbourne Borough Council. But because the Hippodrome’s summer variety season (the longest-running in the country) is so important to tourism, myself and other hoteliers have decided to form a community interest company to run it.

“Variety is dying out so while we’re keen to keep the summer show running, we also want to find a new niche. We won’t be putting on plays – the other theatres in Eastbourne do that – but we do want to focus on comedy, magic, maybe bands.

We’re in talks with the local church who are interested in using the theatre on Sundays, as well as local groups who want to use the building for a number of purposes.

The town Hospitality Association has relocated there and we recently opened a Tourist Information Centre here.

I run the Mowbray Hotel on Lascelles Terrace so running a theatre is new to me. But before I became a hotelier I was a criminal barrister for 12 years – you adapt.

Theatre is only a business and if you approach it in a business-like manner but with the community at heart, you should be able to make something of it.

“It’s been hard to get acts for the Hippodrome in recent years because it doesn’t have the reputation it once did.

But it’s a beautiful theatre with a capacity of 646. Although the outside is in need of repair, the interior is in remarkably good condition. We ought to be making the most of it and that’s what we want really – to put this lovely old theatre back in the spotlight again.”

*For more information on the theatre and forthcoming shows, visit www.royalhippodrome.com