An appeal to save the Royal Hippodrome in Eastbourne is gaining momentum – thanks to the town’s hoteliers.
They have already raised a substantial amount of money for the Seaside Road theatre by collecting cash at the end of performances of the summer show.
Their latest fundraising venture was a Murder Mystery held by Eastbourne Hospitality Association at the Mowbray Hotel andt This week Darren Weir, vice chairman of the EHA and partner in the Mowbray Murders, handed over a cheque for £200 to Pamela Khun, the chair of the Friends of the Royal Hippodrome Theatre.
The event was a joint effort by the EHA and the Mowbray Murders. whose cast are largely drawn from local Eastbourne talent, to continue in the EHA’s mission to keep the RHT open.
Darren said, “This Murder Mystery event follows the success of the bucket collection during the Summer Show at the theatre that raised more than £1,200.”
In recent weeks the EHA also handed over £2,000 to the campaign to Save the Beachy Head Lighthouse Stripes.
“The Royal Hippodrome Theatre is an important tourist attraction in Eastbourne and its continued use is just as important as say having the stripes painted on Eastbourne’s lighthouse.
“That’s why the EHA and its members are passionate about both causes and hope that now that the stripes target has been reached that the same enthusiasm could be somehow channelled into the Royal Hippodrome Theatre.”
The Friends of the theatre aim to renovate and remodel the building around its magnificent Grade II listed auditorium, and to bring it into use as a fully working theatre, capable of housing work in a wide variety of theatrical and media forms, operating year round.
The eventual plan is that the renovated theatre will act as a focal point for creative development in media and the performing arts, with professional and community based programmes to attract wider audiences.
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