Hippodrome (Brighton)

• Theatre ID
  41
• Built / Converted
  1900
• Dates of use
  • 1900: onwards
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Music venue (bingo until 2007; conversion to music venue in progress 2008)
• Address
  Middle Street, Brighton, East Sussex, England

Details

A magical conversion of an 1897 ice rink. Long, low and very restrained stuccoed façe to Middle Street. Central entrance flanked by square Italianate towers with pyramid tiled roofs. The reticent exterior is scant preparation for the huge, opulently decorated, near-circular auditorium. Originally a dual purpose circus/variety theatre, and now possibly the finest surviving example of its type in Britain. The arena was soon given over to permanent seating facing the proscenium. There is only one balcony (with seven rows) curving with the walls to meet the single, large onion-domed boxes which flank each side of the wide, low proscenium. The most spectacular feature of the auditorium is the vast ceiling in the form of a panelled tent which covers the whole space and is richly decorated with boldly modelled Baroque plasterwork. At the centre is a balustraded gallery, reminiscent of (but not the same as) the one at the London Hippodrome before it was altered. The ‘Palm Court’, with its false bridge has undergone some alteration, not entirely to its architectural advantage, but it is an impressive room with paintings which appear to date from the original ‘art decorations’. The body of the theatre is intact, with only superficial alterations (the levelling of the auditorium, for example, which ‘submerges’ part of the lower boxes). It could be readily restored to use. However, owing to the great size of the auditorium it would be most suitable for spectacular dance productions, opera and possibly orchestral concerts. The circus sight lines would permit the use of the former arena as an additional performance area. In such use it will be vitally important to retain rear vehicle access.

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• Other names
  Real Ice Skating Rink
• Events
  • 1900 Use: onwards
  • 1897 Design/Construction: as an ice rink
    • Lewis Karslake - Architect
  • 1900 Alteration: converted to theatre
    • Frank Matcham - Architect
  • 1908 Owner/Management: Barrasford & Smith
  • 1946 Owner/Management: General Theatre Corporation Ltd
  • 1933 Owner/Management: part of Moss Empires
• Capacities
  • Later: 1946: 1822
  • Current: est. 1400
• Listings
  • Grade II*
• Stage type
  • Raked
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 11.58m (38ft)
  • Proscenium width: 11.88m (39ft)
  • Height to grid: 15.23m (50ft)
  • Orchestra pit: Original 20