Pavilion Theatre (Worthing)

• Theatre ID
  2061
• Built / Converted
  1926
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre (multi-purpose venue)
• Address
  Marine Parade, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 3PX, England

Details

The 292.6m (960ft) long pier was completed in 1862. Its head was widened in 1889 to accommodate a ‘recreational’ pavilion. The Concert Pavilion, at the root end of the pier, was built in 1926, following the purchase (in 1920) of the pier company by Worthing Corporation. The pier and its buildings have suffered some damage and rebuilding over the years. Today, the Pierhead Pavilion (rebuilt 1935) and the Concert Pavilion are listed with the pier itself and with the Lido, a close neighbour, also by Adshead & Ramsey. The single-storey (Concert) Pavilion, constructed half on the shore and half on the pier, is in continental Kursaal style, stucco-faced with curved, metal-clad roofs with oculus dormers. It comprises a central polygonal block with a long, low crowning lantern; pavilions of varied shapes on each side. The oval, domed entrance block has engaged columns with vases above the entablature. Neo-Gothic interior. The auditorium was built as a concert hall and was home to the municipal orchestra. Plays were also presented before the local company moved to the Connaught. The pier was closed during the war but the Pavilion re-opened as a garrison theatre in 1942. Entrance canopies of heavy and unsympathetic design were added in 1970 and the auditorium was refurbished and modernised in 1981. It is now a multi-purpose hall.

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• Other names
  Concert Pavilion
• Events
  • Owner/Management: Worthing District Council
  • 1926 Design/Construction: on pier of 1862
    • Adshead & Ramsey - Architect
  • 1926 Design/Construction:
    • Burnard Green - Consultant: Engineer
  • 1970 Alteration: projecting canopies added
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1981 Alteration: altered and refurbished
    • Borough Architect? - Architect
• Capacities
  • Current: 850
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Stage type
  • Proscenium Flat
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 9.45m Width SL: 9.16m SR: 9.16m
  • Proscenium width: 9.45m
  • Height to grid: 7.01m