About

Eastbourne Theatres are the Congress Theatre, Devonshire Park Theatre and Winter Garden, all situated in the heart of Eastbourne’s cultural Devonshire Quarter and just a short walk from the seafront. The theatres have a combined capacity of more than 3,500 seats and play host to a variety of touring productions and in-house productions.

Congress Theatre

The Congress Theatre is a Grade II* listed, purpose built, theatre and conference venue designed by Bryan and Norman Westwood Architects and built in 1963.

The venue underwent extensive renovation work in 2016 including the creation of the brand new Welcome Building, which sits adjacent to the Congress Theatre.

The largest theatre on the South Coast, the Congress Theatre is host to touring West End musicals and plays, ballet, opera, comedy and live music, the range of live entertainment on offer is extensive and diverse.

Devonshire Park Theatre

The Devonshire Park Theatre is a Grade II listed building designed by Henry Currey, built in 1884 and further improved by celebrated theatre architect Frank Matcham in 1903. It is one of the best examples of small Victorian Theatre in the country, with an ornate interior featuring decorative plaster work with scrolls and caryatids by Schmidt of Holloway.

Dubbed ‘the Playhouse in the Park’ the range of work presented at the Devonshire Park Theatre includes major touring productions by producers and theatre companies including Bill Kenwright, David Pugh, Kneehigh Theatre, The Watermill Theatre, Original Theatre Company and Blackeyed Theatre as well as working alongside local producers.

Eastbourne Theatres also produces its own pantomime, plays and musical productions at the Devonshire Park Theatre.

Winter Garden

The Winter Garden is a Grade II listed building, designed by architect Henry Currey and built by the seventh Duke of Devonshire in 1875. This historic building consists of two main parts - the Floral Hall, originally used as a skating rink in winter and a concert hall in summer, and the Gold Room.

Both parts are now used for performances, cabaret style events, dinner dances and as conference venues.

The Winter Garden has recently undergone extensive renovation work to restore the venue to its former glory, work continues on the exterior faced through 2021.

The Floral Hall has a maximum theatre style seating capacity of 1,000 and the Gold Room a capacity of 400. Both spaces offer flexible seating options including cabaret and banquet style arrangements. (The Gold Room is currently not in use while it undergoes refurbishment works)