[Distant_Cousin]

I moved to Brighton 6 months ago and find there's very little at the Theatre Royal there that appeals (which for me is touring versions of hit musicals, former West End musicals etc). It seems that everything goes to Eastbourne (just 30 miles east), which is a smaller town and you'd have thought would have less chance of attracting such big budget productions.

Seems this is not the case. We seem to have our fair share of plays in Brighton, but musicals don't seem to get a look in.

Anyone know the reasons for this? Is it the fact that Brighton is more intrinsically linked to London than Eastbourne, and Brightonians are happy to go to London, whereas Eastbournians are not?!?!

Any thoughts? I would be grateful to hear!

[armadillo]

Size of the theatre perhaps? Does Brighton have an orchestra pit? Not all theatres are suitable for musicals.

[wickedgrin]

The Congress Theatre Eastbourne has a bigger stage and seating capacity than the Theatre Royal Brighton. Big musicals such as Cats etc simply cannot be accomodated at the Theatre Royal. This is the main reason big touring musical shows go to Eastbourne.
However, many Brightonions do travel up to London - the rail links are better and there are many deals to be had on theatre tickets in London.
Living in Brighon myself and a regular theatre goer I rarely visit the Theatre Royal as I find it expensive for mediocre touring product when I can get up to London and see a WE show for the same money (NT travelex season/TKTS booth etc). Plus the Ambassador Theatre group are charging £1 per ticket restoration levy on every ticket for the upkeep of the building which is iniquitous.

[Distant_Cousin]

Hmm, that makes sense. I've never been to the Theatre Royal Brighton, (as nothing has appealed)

I sometimes find it a bit of a drag going to London with the exhorbitant train fares, but thems the breaks!

I'm looking forward to seeing The History Boys and Aspects Of Love in Eastbourne. (I saw Cats there last week)

[lorri]

I live in Eastbourne and agree its probably because the theatre is bigger than the theatre royal in Brighton, my personal opinion is its not better at all, the sound system in Eastbourne is not that wonderful and often way too loud, also as the theatre is big it can feel quite empty at some performances,when rocky horror was on there a few years ago ( totally wrong show for the town which as most people know has a big retired population) before it started they moved the entire audience down to the stalls and we still only filled 4 rows !!!. I go to London about once a month and Brighton 6 or 7 times a year to the theatre royal but only attend Eastbourne once or twice as it just does not have the atmosphere.

[Tintin]

I also live in Brighton and have been going to the Theatre Royal all my life. I love its atmosphere, but in recent years there has been very little to interest me. Much of it is an endless round of touring revivals of pop musicals that I hate. Many shows are just too big for the stage, whereas the Congress theatre at Eastbourne has a huge capacity. However, the latter is a really ugly barn of a place.