Restaurant owner remembers 'golden era'

4:08am Wednesday 27th June 2007

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Pinocchio restaurant co-owner Pietro Addis said: "It was a golden era when David Land was in charge.

"He rejuvenated the theatre.

"He was a character, a well-known person from the East End.

"He was very mean. He used to collect all the lost property from the theatre and give it out as Christmas presents to all his friends.

"He was mean in the sense he was mean if he had to buy you a drink - but he would give you anything.

"I went to see Pavarotti at Covent Garden and he got me tickets for the box next-door to Prince Charles'."

Glenn Mishon, director of Mishon Mackay estate agents, said: "I used to always go around to the stage door and wait for the actors and actresses to come out. I was quite sad really but I was and still am a huge theatre fan.

"I loved meeting the stars and getting their autographs. Theatre Royal Brighton is just the most amazing place. The productions are always first class and it has a magical quality about it, something indefinable."

David Smith, former Mayor of Brighton and Hove, said: "It is an amazing building and an amazing place. I remember so many brilliant performances there. Brilliant performances by actors and actresses and just brilliant shows.

"There are places around the world like Barcelona and Milan which claim they are the best cities in the world but I think Brighton is and the Theatre Royal is part of that.

"It has a brilliant atmosphere and excellent staff. I'm just very glad it has kept going for 200 years and continues to keep going."

Judith Hibberd, head of performing arts, for Arts Council England South East, said: "I have enjoyed many performances at the Theatre Royal over the years but watching Spymonkey - a hitherto small-scale theatre company - take command of the large stage and the full Theatre Royal audience was really inspiring.

"The mixed audience roared with laughter - a woman near me getting near to tears and my eight-year-old daughter was bouncing on her seat.

"The aftershow discussion was just as lively with most of the conversation seeming to concentrate on how the cast had all got away with the nudity except 'the boring good looking' character. 'Why was that?' an audience member asked. 'Stage secret' was the reply. 'What do you mean?' 'He doesn't have a comedy body' she was told. More laughter.

"A really good evening and I felt proud that we had funded the production."