About

The Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Seaside Road, opened in 1883 as the New Theatre Royal and Opera House, having been granted a Royal Patent by the Prince of Wales making it the oldest theatre in Eastbourne.

Mr. C.J. Phipps, a London architect who designed a number of theatres, was asked to draw plans and help raise finance for the scheme. The interior of the new theatre was partly modelled on his, now famous, Savoy Theatre in London.

In 1904 the theatre was renamed the Eastbourne Hippodrome and began a period of twice nightly variety shows which still continue to this day! The Hippodrome welcomed many star performers in the 20th century including Ada Reeve, Harry Houdini (who made a well publicised escape from Eastbourne police cells), Harry Tate, Marie Lloyd, Fred Karno’s Famous Troupe, Vera Lynn, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Ken Dodd, Roy Hudd, and Bruce Forsyth, who was appearing at the Royal Hippodrome when he was called up to compere Sunday Night at the London Palladium.

The theatre’s programme of events nowadays still centres around variety with something to suit everyones taste. 

The Royal Hippodrome has seen many changes over recent years and in 2019 the building was finally upgraded, refurbished and improved thanks to a £500,000 facelift by Directors Alex and Debbie Adams who have many more plans to improve and enhance the theatrical experience for all theatre goers and look forward to an exciting and fulfilling future.