Jo Brooks, director of Brighton PR firm JBPR, said: "One of my best memories of the theatre was an adult version of the panto one year when Jonathan Wilkes was playing the lead.

"He was due to sing Robbie Williams' song 'She's The One' while Robin Cousins skated onto the stage on rollerblades.

"Just as he began the lights fixed on one of the boxes by the stage where the real Robbie Williams sat hidden under a hat and coat.

"He said: 'I think you will find Jonathan that this is my song' and sang it himself.

"The whole audience ran to the stage screaming. It was hysterical."

PJ Aldred, Pride organiser, said: "Apart from the usual arts offers at this great historical theatre, I treat my whole family, who descend from all over the uk, to the pantomime every year. Nowadays it's just us adults that join in as the nieces and nephews have just turned into embarrassed teenagers. But we love it."

Brian Oxley, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "One of my most vivid memories of the Theatre Royal was going to see the play 'Separate Tables', by Terence Rattigan. One of the stars of the show was the wonderful Patricia Hodge.

"When she walked on stage her presence just filled the venue in a way that I had never experienced before. This was partly because she is one of our great performers - but also because of the Theatre Royal itself. The venue has a powerful intimacy that is valued by both audience and performers: for me it brought the whole experience to life and made the whole play seem much more real and vivid.

"It is a special theatre with a special ambience that has been bringing together audiences and performances to the benefit of both for the last 200 years."

Stephen Unwin, director of English Touring Theatre, said: "Our dance company is 80 years old and we share a great history together.

"We have been coming to this theatre since 1939 and we will be bringing another premiere here in February with a FrenchCanadian and his production Anatomica. Happy birthday Theatre Royal and may your heritage continue to grow and be wonderful in the future."