Devonshire Park Theatre Established 1884
Welcome to the Devonshire Park Theatre
Devonshire Park Theatre
Compton Street
Eastbourne
BN21 4BP
Tel: 01323 412000
The entrance to the theatre is in Hardwick Road.
There is on street parking in Hardwick Road and surrounding streets.
A number of disabled parking bays for blue badge holders are available in the theatre’s driveway.
A car park is in College Road
The theatre is a beautiful Grade II listed building
It was designed by Henry Currey
The building was improved by theatre architect Frank Matcham in 1903
Seating Capacity 936
It is one of the best examples in the country of a small Victorian Theatre
It is blessed with an ornate interior featuring scrolls, caryatids and decorative plaster
work by Schmidt of Holloway.
The theatre won the Martini/TMA Regional Theatre Award for ‘Most Welcoming Theatre’
in 1994.
Artistic Director: Chris Jordan
For the regular theatre goer who likes to see the many professional touring plays, smaller musicals,
amateur productions and “In-House” productions (many of which have gone on to national touring
success) the Devonshire Park Theatre is a very popular venue.
As regular theatre addicts this is a beautiful venue, popular with the artists too. many a professional
actor has raved publicly about the welcome this theatre affords them.
Anybody who would like to meet artists or to qualify for a discount on certain performances would
be encouraged to join The Friends Of The Devonshire Park Theatre. You can click here for further
details. The Friends also enjoy a wide variety of social functions and other special events like talks
from guest speakers throughout the year.
There used to be the lovely tradition here that you could have tea ,coffee and biscuits brought to
your seats in the interval. This was extremely popular, not just with the elderly and infirm, but with
those who love tradition.
Sadly in the 2000’s Health and Safety regulations and a sue-for-everything culture has meant an
end to this popular practice. Just in case somebody ends up with hot tea poured in their lap I
guess?
Internally the auditorium is stunning and extremely well maintained. However the exterior is quite
apparently in need of some work to restore it to its former glory. The lavatories could also do with
being considerably modernized and perhaps Eastbourne Council together with the funds raised by
The Friends Of The Devonshire Park theatre may turn their attention to this soon? Especially as
the lavatories are right inside the front door. First impressions count and the toilets do seem a very
neglected but vital facility for all.
For a wonderful selection of plays catering for all tastes this theatre comes highly recommended.
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If you would like to see your Devonshire Park Theatre photography
featured please use the form on the Reviews or Links pages to contact
me.
Below are a selection of videos I have put together covering both the
theatre itself and The Friends. Use the arrows at the side of the widget to
change the selected video
