Mr Phipps Theatre: The Sensational Story of Eastbournes Royal Hippodrome
The Theatre was later renamed The Royal Hippodrome, the name it still retains today. In an attempt to modernise the Theatre in the early s the auditorium was altered by boxing in the circle and box fronts which had formerly been enriched with delicate Adamesque ornament. The new look was cleaner but spoilt the atmosphere of Phipps original decorations. By the late s, the Theatre was becoming tired and so were its audiences. Plans were put together for its demolition but local opposition in the early s and a restoration fund headed by Russ Conway, who then lived in the town, raised sufficient funds to have the proscenium arch, boxes, and circle fronts of the Theatre restored.
This led to the Theatre being Listed and its future secured. On the 6th of February Eastbourne Council agreed to grant a licence to the Royal Hippodrome Theatre Management to run the Theatre as a Community Interest Company so that they could run it as a combined community venue and professional Theatre. The Royal Hippodrome Trust which was set up in are now the guardians of the Theatre, whilst the Theatre's Management hope to interest local groups to invest their time and money into the building, and to secure funding for its future.
In the Theatre is celebrating its th anniversary, and currently seats You may like to visit the Theatre's own Website here.
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The books sets the story against a social history of the town and contains a Foreword by Peter Longman, then director of The Theatres Trust. Photographs for this Theatre from September were kindly sent in by George Richmond, and taken with kind permission of the Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne. The Theatre was built in on land which was given by the Duke of Devonshire and formed part of a complex of buildings which would not be completed until The first building constructed on this land was the Wintergarden which was built in , then came the Theatre in , and finally the Indian Pavilion in , all constructed by the Devonshire Park and Baths Company.
It is true that the Pavilion has been utilised, but this building was never intended for such a purpose, and its acoustic defects have considerably marred the attractiveness of the entertainments from time to time given therein. The directors have therefore erected at the south eastern corner of the grounds, adjoining Hardwick-road, a suitable theatre, complete in every detail, which was duly licensed on Monday, the 26th ult. The new dramatic hall is approached by a carriage drive from Hardwick-road.
Ascending two or three steps we reach the entrance hall, which has a domed roof; in the centre is a small sunlight, which illuminates the whole area. On each side of the hall, which we may herto mention is handsomely carpeted, are one or two small retiring rooms, and on one side the ticket office. Ascending another short flight of steps, the corridor branches of in two directions, one leading to the orchestra stalls and the other to the balcony stalls.
All fear of draughts is avoided by portiere draperies. We notice just within the draperies a handsomely-fitted buffet and restaurant, and in another part a snug smoking-room for gentlemen, handsomely furnished with lounges and settees. On the ground-floor are the orchestra stalls, in number, while above are the first circle seats. Each seat is a comfortable arm-chair, covered with damask in cream and old gold, with cushioned arm rests and moveable seats. The pit is behind the orchestra stalls, and is somewhat contracted. It will only accommodate about persons.
The seats are separated from each other by iron partitions.
Royal Hippodrome Theatre
Above the first balcony is a second, which will serve as an amphitheatre or gallery, and is a most commodious and extremely comfortable part of the house. Owing to the excellent arrangement of the interior, the whole of the stage will be visible from every seat in the house. There are no side galleries, customary in most theatres. In the centre of the roof is a sunlight, from which pear-shaped medallions radiate, bordered with gold.
The ground is a light silver grey, enlivened by light crimson or lake. The front of the balconies are decorated in the same style, and the whole building has a most chaste and elegant appearance. There is a handsome buffet for the pit and amphitheatre, quite distinct from the stall buffet. The pit and amphitheatre have separate entrances at the sides of the building, and every arrangement has been made to enable the house to be cleared in a few minutes in case of fire.
All the staircases and approaches are fireproof, and water is laid on in every part, which can be made available at a moment's notice. In fact, every precaution has been adopted to make the hall in all respects as safe from danger as possible. Leaving the front of the stage, we pass through some fire-proof doors to the mysterious regions below.
Here we find ourselves in a perfect labyrinth of peculiar machinery, used for dramatic purposes - traps to send sprites flying into the air, or to raise fairies to earthly regions. The building is lit with gas, and both the sun and foot lights are constructed on the flash principle, so that in an instant the theatre can be bathed in light or shrouded in darkness. Behind the stage is a spacious green-room, and a number of commodious dressing-rooms, all carpeted, and properly furnished, for the convenience of the ladies and gentlemen engaged on the stage.
Under the most brilliant auspices the new Thespian temple was opened on Monday evening. The house may literally be said to have been crowded from floor to ceiling with a fashionable and critical audience. The honour of giving the opening performances had been accorded to Mr G. Wood's Garrick Comedy company, and the selection turned out a very happy one.
This gentleman performed the duty imposed upon him in an admirable manner, the address being well written and exceedingly appropriate to the occasion. After this followed the play of the evening, Mr G. Wood's version of David Garrick , which was well gone through and cordially approved. The above text in quotes was first published in the ERA , 7th of June B y the Theatre seems to have become rather unloved, an article in the ERA of the 24th of November that year remarks on the plain auditorium and failed productions, although a visit by Winston Churchill did revive the place for one night at least.
Jones, Mark August [WorldCat Identities]
Many theatrical companies have failed to be attractive at ordinary prices - owing to the fact that the auditorium is nothing much better than a large room, which sadly wants decoration and is without even a private box - whereas Mr Winston Churchill on Monday afternoon packed the theatre from floor to ceiling at nearly double charges for admission. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland, with an area of , square kilometres, the United Kingdom is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world and the 11th-largest in Europe.
It is also the 21st-most populous country, with an estimated The United Kingdom is a monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. The United Kingdom consists of four countries—England, Scotland, Wales, the last three have devolved administrations, each with varying powers, based in their capitals, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, respectively.
The relationships among the countries of the UK have changed over time, Wales was annexed by the Kingdom of England under the Laws in Wales Acts and These are the remnants of the British Empire which, at its height in the s, British influence can be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former colonies.
The UK is considered to have an economy and is categorised as very high in the Human Development Index. It was the worlds first industrialised country and the worlds foremost power during the 19th, the UK remains a great power with considerable economic, cultural, military, scientific and political influence internationally. It is a nuclear weapons state and its military expenditure ranks fourth or fifth in the world. The UK has been a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since its first session in and it has been a leading member state of the EU and its predecessor, the European Economic Community, since However, on 23 June , a referendum on the UKs membership of the EU resulted in a decision to leave.
Listed building — A listed building or listed structure, in the United Kingdom, is one that has been placed on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. The statutory bodies maintaining the list are Historic England in England, Cadw in Wales, Historic Scotland in Scotland, however, the preferred term in Ireland is protected structure. In England and Wales, an amenity society must be notified of any work to a listed building which involves any element of demolition. Owners of listed buildings are, in circumstances, compelled to repair and maintain them.
When alterations are permitted, or when listed buildings are repaired or maintained, slightly different systems operate in each area of the United Kingdom, though the basic principles of the listing remain the same. It was the damage to caused by German bombing during World War II that prompted the first listing of buildings that were deemed to be of particular architectural merit. The listings were used as a means of determining whether a building should be rebuilt if it was damaged by bombing.
Listing was first introduced into Northern Ireland under the Planning Order , the listing process has since developed slightly differently in each part of the UK. A heritage asset is a part of the environment that is valued because of its historic. Only some of these are judged to be important enough to have legal protection through designation.
However, buildings that are not formally listed but still judged as being of heritage interest are still regarded as being a consideration in the planning process. Almost anything can be listed — it does not have to be a building, Buildings and structures of special historic interest come in a wide variety of forms and types, ranging from telephone boxes and road signs, to castles. Historic England has created twenty broad categories of structures, and published selection guides for each one to aid with assessing buildings and these include historical overviews and describe the special considerations for listing each category.
Both Historic Scotland and Cadw produce guidance for owners, in England, to have a building considered for listing or delisting, the process is to apply to the secretary of state, this can be done by submitting an application form online to Historic England. The applicant does not need to be the owner of the building to apply for it to be listed, full information including application form guidance notes are on the Historic England website. Historic England assesses buildings put forward for listing or delisting and provides advice to the Secretary of State on the architectural, the Secretary of State, who may seek additional advice from others, then decides whether or not to list or delist the building.
After earning a bachelor of degree from Trinity College, Cambridge. In , he married Lady Diana Spencer and they had two sons, Prince William later to become Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry, in , the couple divorced, following well-publicised extramarital affairs. Diana died in a car crash in Paris the following year, in , Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles. Charles has sought to raise awareness of the dangers facing the natural environment.
As an environmentalist, he has received awards and recognition from environmental groups around the world. His support for alternative medicine, including homeopathy, has been criticised by some in the medical community and he has been outspoken on the role of architecture in society and the conservation of historic buildings. Subsequently, Charles created Poundbury, a new town based on his theories.
Charles attended his mothers coronation at Westminster Abbey on 2 June , seated alongside his grandmother, as was customary for upper-class children at the time, a governess, Catherine Peebles, was appointed and undertook his education between the ages of five and eight. Buckingham Palace announced in that Charles would attend school rather than have a private tutor, Charles then attended two of his fathers former schools, Cheam Preparatory School in Berkshire, England, followed by Gordonstoun in the north-east of Scotland.
He reportedly despised the school, which he described as Colditz in kilts. Tradition was broken again when Charles proceeded straight from school into university. D'Oyly Carte Opera Company — The company was revived for short seasons and tours from to , and with Scottish Opera it later co-produced two productions. Gilbert, when that work, Trial by Jury, became a success, Carte put together a syndicate to produce a full-length Gilbert and Sullivan work, The Sorcerer, followed by H. After Pinafore became a sensation, Carte jettisoned his difficult investors and formed a new partnership with Gilbert.
The company produced the succeeding ten Gilbert and Sullivan operas and many operas and companion pieces at the Savoy Theatre in London. The company also mounted tours in Britain, New York and elsewhere, Cartes able assistant, Helen Lenoir, became his wife in and, after his death in , she ran the company until her own death in By this time, it had become a year-round Gilbert and Sullivan touring repertory company, Cartes son Rupert inherited the company.
Jones, Mark 1961 August 10-
Beginning in , he mounted new seasons in London with new set and costume designs, while continuing the year-round tours in Britain, with the help of the director J. Gordon and the conductor Isidore Godfrey, Carte ran the company for 35 years. He redesigned the Savoy Theatre in and sponsored a series of recordings over the years that helped to keep the operas popular, after Ruperts death in , his daughter Bridget DOyly Carte inherited the company and hired Frederic Lloyd as general manager. The company continued to tour for 35 weeks each year, issue new recordings and play London seasons of Gilbert and it re-formed in with a legacy left by Bridget DOyly Carte, played short tours and London seasons, and issued some popular recordings.
Some of the performers, over the decades, became stars of their day. The company licensed the operas for performance in Australasia and to numerous amateur troupes in Britain and elsewhere, providing orchestra parts and prompt books for hire. The company kept the Savoy operas in the eye for over a century and left an enduring legacy of production styles. By , Richard DOyly Carte, a musician and ambitious young impresario, had begun producing operettas in London.
He announced his ambitions on the front of the programme for one of his productions that year, in early , Carte was managing Londons Royalty Theatre. Gilbert, on tour in , Carte had conducted Arthur Sullivans one-act comic opera Cox and Box, which received an London revival. Gilbert had offered a libretto to Carte about an English courtroom, but at the time Carte knew of no composer available to set it to music.
Music hall — Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era circa and lasting until It involved a mixture of songs, comedy, speciality acts. The term is derived from a type of theatre or venue in which such entertainment took place and these theatres were designed chiefly so people could consume food and alcohol and smoke tobacco in the auditorium while the entertainment took place.
This differed somewhat from the type of theatre, which until then seated the audience in stalls with a separate bar-room. By the midth century, the halls cried out for many new, as a result, professional songwriters were enlisted to provide the music for a plethora of star performers, such as Marie Lloyd, Dan Leno, Little Tich, and George Leybourne. Music hall did not adopt its own unique style, the halls had recovered by the start of the First World War and were used to stage charity events in aid of the war effort.
Music hall entertainment continued after the war, but became popular due to upcoming Jazz, Swing. Licensing restrictions had also changed, and drinking was banned from the auditorium, a new type of music hall entertainment had arrived, in the form of variety, and many music hall performers failed to make the transition. Deemed old fashioned and with the closure of many halls, music hall entertainment ceased, Music hall in London had its origins in entertainment provided in the new style saloon bars of public houses during the s.
These venues replaced earlier semi-rural amusements provided by fairs and suburban pleasure gardens such as Vauxhall Gardens and these latter became subject to urban development and became fewer and less popular.
The saloon was a room where for a fee or a greater price at the bar, singing, dancing. It is still famous because of an English nursery rhyme, with the somewhat mysterious lyrics, Up and down the City Road In and out The Eagle Thats the way the money goesPop goes the weasel. Other song and supper rooms included the Coal Hole in The Strand, the Cyder Cellars in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, the music hall as we know it developed from such establishments during the s and were built in and on the grounds of public houses.
In a theatre, by contrast, the audience was seated in stalls, an exception to this rule was the Britannia Theatre, Hoxton which somehow managed to evade this regulation and served drinks to its customers. Though a theatre rather than a hall, this establishment later hosted music hall variety acts. Vesta Tilley — Matilda Alice Powles, was an English music hall performer who adopted, at age 11, the stage name Vesta Tilley and who became one of the most famous male impersonators of her era.
Her father, known as Harry Ball, was an actor, songwriter. At the age of six she did her first role in male clothing, billed as The Pocket Sims Reeves and she also performed songs from his repertoire, to add to the illusion. She would come to prefer doing male roles exclusively, saying that I felt that I could express myself better if I were dressed as a boy, under her fathers management, Vesta toured extensively in the provinces, as towns and cities outside London were known.
Successful from the outset, by age 11 her salary supported her parents, the first decade of her career saw her billed most often as the Great Little Tilley. The gender ambiguity of her name was causing problems for audiences, however, so she and she was billed as Vesta Tilley for the first time in April , when performing at the Royal Music Hall in Holborn, London. Vesta referred to both the Roman goddess of hearth and home, and a brand of safety matches, Tilley, early on, Vesta performed the songs of Sims Reeves, and songs written for her by her father.
These included sentimental pieces such as Poor Jo, which had her playing the character of a workhouse child, other sentimental songs would follow, such as Squeeze Her Gently, The Pet of Rotten Row, and Strolling along with Nancy, songs made popular by Reeves. As she got older, she followed other male impersonators into songs where she undertook portraying young men behaving either embarrassingly or badly, among these characters would feature the titular character Burlington Bertie as well as clerks on holiday at the seaside.
These were intended to be comical, and allow the audience to laugh at the inflated egos of these characters, equally comical was the play on her identity as a woman and the subject matter of many of her songs. Aside from the boys, she also had a number of military characters. She also played the boy in a number of pantomimes. She played the role of Pertiboy in Beauty and the Beast at the Birmingham Theatre Royal during the —2 season and she was best known for her titular role in Dick Whittington, a role she reprised throughout her career.
The season ran from May to September. The Royal Hippodrome Trust was supposed to be running the theatre from , but owing to circumstances they were not in a position to run the season and so the local hoteliers persuaded the council to support it. In the Trust were again asked whether they would be able to take over the running of the theatre, but they were unable to, so the council looked for an alternative solution.
On 6 February the Cabinet of the council unanimously agreed a proposal led by two hoteliers to take over the running of the theatre on a licence for one year RHT Management with the aim of setting up a community interest company in The proposal also included a plan to relocate the Eastbourne Hospitality Association to the theatre so that a part-time tourist information centre could be operated from the building, giving it a more open presence.
The Royal Hippodrome's mascot "Henrietta Hippo" started a children's morning entertainment show in , co-produced by Trapdoor Productions. A local summer school has been run by since by Trapdoor Theatre School. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved 15 October Retrieved 12 May Retrieved from " https: Views Read Edit View history.