The story of Komedia is one of the most inspiring in Brighton and Hove over the past 20 years.

It all started in 1993 when the directors of Umbrella Theatre returned to Brighton after a tour in Europe. David Lavender, Colin Granger and Marina Kobler decided to open a new arts venture.

They wanted Komedia to have a wide choice of art and entertainment, good service, bars and food.

A derelict Regency building in Manchester Street near the aquarium may not have seemed the ideal venue. It had been a bus depot and a billiard hall in its day.

Granger put the royalties from his best-selling textbook on English towards renovating the building. It was a big risk.

But Komedia opened its doors in May 1994 for the Brighton Festival.

The directors were lucky to have Bill and Agnes Buglass on their side who became the venue’s theatrical landlord and landlady.

As fervent supporters of Komedia, the couple become legendary in the comedy world for the generous hospitality they provided in their large Norfolk Square home and for the late night parties.

Colin Granger said, “The pittance they charged in rent was paid back tenfold in complimentary drinks.”

The venue was starting to attract young talent such as Matt Lucas, Armstrong and Miller, Al Murray and the League of Gentlemen, while its regular Sunday morning shows introduced a whole new generation of Brighton children to theatre.

By 1997, it was clear the Manchester Street venue had become too small for Komedia’s growing audiences.

This time the directors looked at the Jubilee Hall in Gardner Street, a large indoor market that had started life as a Tesco supermarket. But the cost of buying and renovating it was too great.

Then Komedia had another lucky break when the chief executive of Tiodos, the Dutch ethical bank, paid a visit and found it reminded him of the cafes in Amsterdam. He agreed to fund the move.

The new theatre opened in October 1998 and over the next five years more work was undertaken to provide a large cabaret theatre space, a restaurant, a studio theatre and a cafe.

By this time, most modern comedians had played there, including Bill Bailey, Harry Hill, Jimmy Carr, Ross Noble, Graham Norton, Jo Brand, Daniel Kitson and Johnny Vegas. Other performers on the list were Duffy and the Arctic Monkeys.

Another successful move in a bid to develop the work of Komedia performers was with the comedian Count Arthur Strong.

In 2008, Komedia started another venture in Bath where a derelict cinema was restored and put to use as a live venue.

But it suffered in the recession which started about eight years ago and nearly went under.

It had to make tough decisions but managed to survive so that now it is on a firmer financial footing than ever before.

An innovative venture was liaising with Picturehouse to show art-house cinema in Brighton and Bath.

This year Komedia celebrates its 20th anniversary with a programme appropriately called Reasons To Be Cheerful.