Pavilion Theatre, Torquay

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The Pavilion in 2009, when it was a shopping arcade

The Pavilion Theatre was a theatre in Torquay, Devon, England. It was one of the three main auditoriums in Torbay, and during the 1970s differed from the Princess Theatre, Torquay, and the Festival Theatre, Paignton, in that it had plays rather than variety shows during the lucrative summer seasons.

Building[]

One of the figures of Mercury on a side-dome

From 1890 to 1930, the Borough Engineer of Torbay, Henry Augustus Garrett, laid out the Princess Gardens, the Terrace Walk, Pier Pavilion and Torquay Pavilion on Torquay seafront. The Pavilion's architect was Edward Rogers, who drew up the final plans with HC Goss. The plans were passed in 1903, but construction did not start until 1911 due to Rogers’ death, and the work was taken over by Garrett. Part of its site is on land reclaimed from the sea, and it was built on a concrete raft on which a steel framework was erected. It is faced with white tiles made of Doulton's Carrara-enamelled stoneware. Its central copper-covered dome is topped with a life-size figure of Britannia and two smaller domes on each side bear figures of Mercury. Finely sculpted Art Nouveau-style cast iron edges the steps to the promenade deck and the octagonal bandstands or summer houses.[1]

The Pavilion opened on Saturday 17 August [2] 1912 and apart from the foyer and auditorium, it had lounges and a cafe, all of which were panelled with oak. A municipal orchestra was founded and many famous conductors and singers performed here.[3]

It was proposed to demolish the building in 1973, but was listed in the same year. It closed in 1976, when it was leased to Rank Organisation and the interior was destroyed in adaptations for various types of amusements, first as a skating rink and in the 1980s as a shopping arcade. As of July 2020, it is closed awaiting restoration; the steel girders which form its framework are heavily corroded.[3] It has Grade II listed status.[4]

Shows[]

Over the years the theatre entertained millions of people. In the last few years of its existence it was simultaneously known as the Rainbow Pavilion for pop music concerts.

Selective shows:

Year Show Notes
1926 The Farmer's Wife 26 – 31 July 1926, Laurence Olivier[5]
1926 Alf's Button Monday 2 August [5]
1930 The Apple Cart started 11 August 1930
1930 Rose Marie started 18 August 1930
1930 The Girl Friend started 25 August 1930
1930 One Dam Thing After Another started 1 September 1930
1930 Silver Wings started 8 September 1930
1930 Lucky Girl started 15 September 1930
1930 Godfrey Tearle & Mary Malone started 22 September 1930
1930 Wild Rose started 29 September 1930
1931 Charley's Aunt w/c 16 February
1931 Sexton Blake w/c 23 February
1932 Peg O' My Heart w/c 15 February
1932 Grumpy w/c 22 February
1933 The Dubarry w/c Monday 14 August
1933 Lilac Time w/c Monday 18 September, Edward Leer
1933 Faust Wednesday 25 October (matinee)
1933 Madam Butterfly Wednesday 25 October (evening)
1933 Il Trovatore Thursday 26 October
1933 Gorno's Italian Marionettes w/c 31 October
1937 Merrie England Feb 2 - 6, Torquay Operatic Society
1938 The Burgomaster of Stilemonde w/c 10 October
1938 The Green Pack w/c 17 October
1939 Lilac Time Monday 20 November, Darroll Richards
1948 The Rebel Maid (June) Torbay Operatic & Dramatic Society
1951 The Desert Song (June) Torbay Operatic & Dramatic Society
1951 Glamorous Night (June) Torbay Operatic & Dramatic Society
1955 Beryl Reid
1955 George Formby
1955 Music for the Millions Kay Cavendish
1956 Norman Evans
1956 Music for the Millions Jimmy Edwards, Reg Thompson, Harry Worth (Sept 17th for 6 days)
1956 Elsie & Doris Waters
1956 Ken Tones
1958 Variety Show w/c Monday 26 May, Pavilion Orchestra, et al.
1958 Variety Show w/c Monday 2 June, Jimmy Young, Arthur English, George & Lydia
1958 Perchance to Dream w/c Monday 9 June, Torbay Operatic & Dramatic Society
1960 Ken Dodd 'Startime' June to October
1960 Cinderella Ruby Murray
1961 Laughing Room Only Jimmy Jewel, Ben Warriss
1962 The Cigarette Girl[6] Week commencing Monday 28 May. By William Douglas-Home.
1962 Ballet Rambert 4 June
1962 The Gimmick 11 June, starring Dave King
1962 What a Racket 19 June-29 September, Maggie Millward, Jessie Matthews, Arthur Askey, Jack Douglas, Billy Tasker,
Adele Strong, Bunny May, Linda James, Carole Gosheron and Michael Lomax.
1963 Best Laid Schemes! Summer season commencing Wednesday 12 June. By Philip Weathers.

Starring Thora Hird, Sydney Tafler, Freddie Frinton, Wendy Lovelock, William Maxwell, Barbara Bruce, Linda Bennett,
Raymond Graham

1964 We're Frying Tonight! Summer season play by John Waterhouse. Starring Jimmy Clitheroe, Albert Burdon, Eddie Molloy, Mollie Sugden,
Robert Webber, William Moore, Lynda Reynolds, Philip Clive, Tommy Godfrey, Billy Windsor
1965 Doctor at Sea John Slater, Edward Rigby, Andrew Ray
1968 Wedding Fever Sid James, Beryl Mason, John Inman, Kathleen Worth, Robert Blacklock
1969 Stand by your Bedouin Dickie Henderson
1970 Don't Tell the Wife with Jack Douglas
1971 The Mating Season with Sid James, Beryl Mason
1972 Stop It Nurse with Charles Hawtrey, Kenneth Connor, Bernard Bresslaw
1973 Busman's Holiday with Bob Grant, Stephen Lewis and Anna Karen
1975 Move Over Mrs Markham with Tessie O'Shea, Ian Cullen, Virginia Stride, John Clegg and Jan Hunt
1976 The Eric Sykes Show with Eric Sykes, Hattie Jacques, Derek Guyler

References[]

  1. ^ "Pavilion (Torquay)". The Theatres Trust. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  2. ^ Western Daily Mercury 19 Aug 1912
  3. ^ a b "Panic as Pavilion Theatre opened". Western Morning News. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Torquay Pavilion (1291553)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  5. ^ a b Pavilion Theatre Programme
  6. ^ http://theatricalia.com

External links[]

Coordinates: 50°27′39″N 3°31′36″W / 50.4609°N 3.5267°W / 50.4609; -3.5267

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