Dawn Barnes has 65 years of memories stored at the Theatre Royal Brighton.

One of her earliest recollections is being its star, before she became a regular audience member and as a dance teacher sent many pupils to perform there.

Mrs Barnes, 77, of Hillcrest Court, Westdene, Brighton, was just 12 when she landed the lead role in the 1941 Babes in the Wood pantomime.

She answered an advert calling young people for auditions and was stunned to be given the central part of the Girl Babe. She had been dancing since the age of three but it was her first acting role and said the experience was one of her most vivid memories of wartime youth.

Mrs Barnes said: "My part was pretty much the main one - which was thrilling. There were lots of lines to learn and I had to be in nearly all the scenes but I wasn't nervous - when you are young you are more excited.

"I can remember really clearly going up to the circle one day when the theatre was empty and looking down. It was so lovely and I recall the feeling of excitement which surrounded that whole time.

"I also remember it being wartime and coming out of the Theatre one day to find debris all over the road from some bombing - I think it had been in Buckingham Road near Seven Dials. Another time I was in St Ann's Well Gardens in between rehearsals and I remember an air raid siren going off."

The ex-panto star went on to perform in shows around the country as well as other Brighton venues such as the Hippodrome in Middle Street but the Theatre Royal remains her favourite.

She said: "What makes it so special is that they have kept it the way it was.

"All the others are more modern or have gone but the Theatre Royal hasn't changed much at all. It is nice to have something that is a bit more historic with all the old-fashioned seating areas.

"It brings back all the old memories."

Mrs Barnes has maintained a relationship with the venue over the years and when she ran dancing school Dawn Jordon at Compton Avenue Studios would send many of her pupils to audition for pantos and shows such as Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat and Pinocchio.

She said: "They always loved being in shows - acting alongside all the artists and getting their autographs and what have you."

She also likes to go to the theatre about two or three times a year, especially the annual panto with her twin granddaughters.

To celebrate the venue's 200th anniversary this year, The Argus and BBC Southern Counties Radio are gathering 200 stories from people who have visited it, worked there or simply had a passing acquaintance with the Theatre Royal Brighton.

Email theatreroyal@theargus.co.uk with any tales you might have.