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Cliffs Pavilion

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Coordinates: 51°32′07″N 0°41′49″E / 51.5352°N 0.6969°E / 51.5352; 0.6969
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Cliffs Pavilion
Cliffs Pavilion, 2008
Map
AddressStation Rd
Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS0 7RA
England
LocationWestcliff-on-Sea
OwnerSouthend-on-Sea City Council
(operated by Trafalgar Entertainment[1])
Capacity1,630[1]
Construction
Opened1964
Renovated1991-1992; 2010; 2024-2025
Website
Venue Website

Cliffs Pavilion (locally known as the Cliffs) is a theatre and concert venue on Station Road in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, a suburb within the city of Southend-on-Sea. It is the largest purpose-built arts venue in Essex.[2] In 2006, the operation of Cliffs Pavilion, along with the Palace Theatre, were handed to HQ Theatres by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council,[3] who merged with Trafalgar Entertainment in 2021.[4]

Early history

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Plans for a theatre, the Shorefield Pavilion,[5] on the site started in 1935 when the borough council purchased the site to build a 500-seat theatre and concert venue, with work starting four years later on construction but was suspended by the outbreak of World War II.[6][7] After the war, the site was known as Southend's white elephant, with the site laying empty due to budget constraints, until 1963, when work was started on building that could host shows, concerts and private functions.[5] The building was designed by the borough architecture department led by Patrick Burridge, who also designed Southend Civic Centre.[8] The theatre was opened by the actor, writer and director Sir Bernard Miles in July 1964, with the first show opening the next day starring Norman Vaughan and his troupe of dancers, the Swinging Lovelies.[6] The hexagonal sunken forecourt at the front of the theatre follows the line of the pre-war foundations.[7] The Cliffs was the venue for the annual Southend-on-Sea Festival of Music and the Arts.[9] The Cliffs hosted the National Conference of Labour Women in 1967.[10]

Statue and forecourt at the Cliffs Pavilion

1990s redevelopment and 2000s refurbishment

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From July 1991 to December 1992, the building was closed to be re-developed and enlarged, with funding from Southend Borough Council and was designed by Tim Foster Architects. The stairs were rebuilt, a new Foyer Bar added and a balcony added to the auditorium increasing the capacity to 1,630.[11][7] The total cost for the redevelopment was £3.4 million.[12] The theatre re-opened with The Pied Piper of Hamelin starring Wayne Sleep, Peggy Mount and Richard Marner.[13]

In 1998, the Arts Council allocated £850,000 of Lottery cash to Southend Borough Council to investigate a £20 million stage 2 redevelopment. The plans included building a new raked seating stall area, reducing the capacity to 1,601 seats, and a new stage house with dimensions for the stage and fly tower meeting the minimum requirements for major touring companies - an increase in the maximum height from 19 metres to 29 metres. The council brought in Levitt Bernstein Associates to oversee the design, however in 1999 the bid for £12 million of Lottery funding from the Arts Council was overlooked and stage 2 of the redevelopment was withdrawn.[14][15]

In 2010, the Cliffs was closed for seven weeks while a refurbishment took place. The theatre's 1,630 seats that had been in the venue since the 1991-92 redevelopment were replaced, while the carpets in the Foyer were changed.[16]

Pavilion refurbishment 2024-2025

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It was announced in July 2023 that Trafalgar Theatres (manager of the Cliffs) and Southend-on-Sea City Council (owner of the Cliffs) had applied for planning permission for a major refurbishment of the Cliffs Pavilion costing £5.5 million. The plan would see extensive improvements, with a major expansion of the restaurant, a new entrance and lobby to improve the customer experience, an upgraded ventilation system, a new outdoor piazza, bars, toilets, changing facilities and lifts. The redevelopment was due to begin in early 2024, with the building works to be completed by contractor Willmott Dixon, and were planned to take a year to complete. The Cliffs managers said the venue would remain open throughout the refurbishments. However by February 2024, it was announced that there would be a delay to the start of the refurbishment works as the price had risen above the original cost.[1][11] It was announced in August 2024 that work was due to start later that month, with Auburn Group awarded the contract after a recommissioning of the tender process.[17]

Maritime Room

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The Maritime Room is located on the lower level of the Cliffs. The venue was originally opened as a restaurant, but after a short trial negotiated by local musician Peter Morris, the venue was used for jazz music events, before expanding into country and western.[18] From 1986 until 2014, the venue was home to the Joker Comedy Club, and was the club that local boy Lee Evans started his comedy career.[19] The club hosted Frank Skinner, Stewart Lee and Bob Mills among others.[20] Jazz remains a staple, with both the Jazz Mix and Open Mic club nights taking place at the venue.[21] The venue is currently home to the Balls Out Comedy Club[22] as well as Tropicana 80s nights.[23]

Performances at the Cliffs

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Annual pantomime

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The Cliffs hosts an annual pantomime with a big name celebrity cast. It has been announced that Rylan Clark will be starring in the 2024 production of Jack and the Beanstalk.[31] Pantomimes since 2000 have included:

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Southend's Cliffs Pavilion to undergo major revamp next year". BBC. 15 July 2023.
  2. ^ Barbara Vesey (2003). The Hidden Places of East Anglia. Including Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Travel Publishing. p. 33. ISBN 9781902007915.
  3. ^ "Palace Theatre History". Palace Theatre Trust. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  4. ^ "TRAFALGAR ENTERTAINMENT & HQ THEATRES JOIN FORCES". Trafalgar Entertainment. 30 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b "The new pavilion is taking shape". Southend Star. 11 February 1964. p. 84.
  6. ^ a b "Southend Cliffs Pavilion: a history of the much-loved theatre venue". Evening Echo. 25 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Ian Yearsley (2016). Southend in 50 Buildings. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445651897.
  8. ^ "The war with sludge and a seawall". The Municipal Journal, Public Works Engineer and Contractors' Guide. 68 (3515–3528). Municipal Journal: 2463-2466. 1960.
  9. ^ Elaine Brody, Claire Brook (1975). The Music Guide to Great Britain. England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland. Dodd, Mead. p. 143. ISBN 9780396069553.
  10. ^ "National Conference of Labour Women 1967". Report. Vol. 44. Labor Party (Gt. Brit.). 1967. p. 13.
  11. ^ a b "Cliffs Pavilion major £8million refurbishment hit by delays". Evening Echo. 26 February 2024.
  12. ^ Architects' Working Details. Emap Construct. 1997. p. 135.
  13. ^ "Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea Opens after refurbishment". Plays and Players. No. 466–471. Hansom Books. 1993. p. 35.
  14. ^ "Southend: Cliffs loses Lottery bid". Daily Gazette. 12 July 1999.
  15. ^ "Cliffs Pavilion Theatre, Southend". Architects Journal. 30 April 1998.
  16. ^ "Cliffs Pavilion refurbishment". Evening Echo. 15 July 2010.
  17. ^ "Multi-million theatre revamp due to begin". BBC. 5 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Peter 'Ponjo' Morris". National Jazz Archive. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  19. ^ "The Joker Comedy Club. Celebrating the best in standup since 1986". Joker Comedy Club. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  20. ^ Stewart Lee (2019). March of the Lemmings. Brexit in Print and Performance 2016–2019. Faber & Faber. ISBN 9780571357048.
  21. ^ "What's On". Southend Jazz. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Southend Cliffs Pavilion shows and events April 2024". Evening Echo. 31 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Tropicana Nights". Trafalgar Tickets. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  24. ^ Gillian G. Gaar, Dave Hunter, Harvey Kubernik, Chris Salewicz, Jaan Uhelszki (2017). Hendrix. The Illustrated Story. Voyageur Press. p. 211. ISBN 9780760352236.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ Jas Obrecht (2018). Stone Free Jimi Hendrix in London, September 1966–June 1967. University of North Carolina Press. p. 127. ISBN 9781469647074. {{cite book}}: line feed character in |title= at position 11 (help)
  26. ^ "Paul McCartney concert at Cliffs Pavilion in Westcliff-on-Sea on Jul 19, 1991". The Paul McCartney project. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Live By The Sea". oasisinet.com. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  28. ^ Tony McCarroll (2011). Oasis. The Truth. John Blake. ISBN 9781843588184.
  29. ^ a b c "The Cliffs Pavilion celebrates its 60th Anniversary". Trafalgar Entertainment. 4 July 2024.
  30. ^ "Blur - Live 2009 - CD promo". www.vblurpage.com. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  31. ^ "Rylan Clark to star in Cliffs Pavilion pantomime in Southend". Evening Echo. 27 February 2024.
  32. ^ Template:Cite& web
  33. ^ "Dick Whittington". It's behind you. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  34. ^ "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears handbill". It's behind you. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  35. ^ "Preview of Pantomime Dates and Details for 2003/4". It's behind you. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  36. ^ "Preview of Pantomime Dates and Details for 2004/5". It's behind you. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  37. ^ "Preview of Pantomime Dates and Details for 2005/6". It's behind you. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Pantomime". Comedy King's. The unofficial Cannon and Ball website. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  39. ^ "Joe Pasquale to star in Cinderella". BBC. 3 July 2007.
  40. ^ a b "IN PICTURES: The stage and screen A-listers who have performed in Cliffs Pavilion pantos". Evening Echo. 25 December 2020.
  41. ^ a b "TV legends set to star in this year's Cliffs Pavilion pantomime". Evening Echo. 27 March 2015.
  42. ^ "Pantomime". Bradley Walsh.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  43. ^ "Shane Richie to star in Cliffs' Christmas panto". Evening Echo. 11 October 2011.
  44. ^ "Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood to star in Southend Cliffs panto". Evening Echo. 14 January 2013.
  45. ^ "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs review". What's on Stage. 18 December 2013.
  46. ^ "US stars in UK panto: From David Hasselhoff to Jerry Hall". The Independent. 22 December 2014.
  47. ^ "Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates". National Database of Pantomime Performance. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  48. ^ "Bobby Davro on working with Lee Mead in Jack and Beanstalk panto at the Cliffs Pavilion". Evening Echo. 8 December 2017.
  49. ^ "Robert Lindsay, Clive Rowe and more among Great British Pantomime Awards 2019 winners". What's on Stage. 29 April 2019.
  50. ^ "Robin Hood and the Merry Men". The Stage. 19 December 2019.
  51. ^ "Brian Conley's EastEnders break as he appears in Cliffs Pavilion panto". Evening Echo. 19 November 2021.
  52. ^ "Peter Pan review". The Stage. 20 December 2023.
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51°32′07″N 0°41′49″E / 51.5352°N 0.6969°E / 51.5352; 0.6969


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