Cliffs Pavilion
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| Address | Station Rd Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS0 7RA England |
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| Location | Westcliff-on-Sea |
| Owner | Southend Borough Council (operated by Trafalgar Entertainment[1]) |
| Capacity | 1,630[1] |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1964 |
| Renovated | 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]
Early history
[edit]Plans for a theatre, the Shorefield Pavilion,[3] 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.[4][5] 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.[3] The building was designed by borough architecture department lead by Patrick Burridge, who also designed Southend Civic Centre.[6] 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.[4] The hexagonal sunken forecourt at the front of the theatre follows the line of the pre war foundations.[5] The Cliffs was the venue for the annual Southend-on-Sea Festival of Music and the Arts.[7]
90s redevelopment and 00s refurbishment
[edit]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.[8][5] The total cost for the redevelopment was £3.4 million.[9] The theatre re-opened with The Pied Piper of Hamelin starring Wayne Sleep, Peggy Mount and Richard Marner.[10]
In 2010, the Cliffs was closed for seven weeks while a refurbishment took place. The theatres 1,630 seats that had been in the venue since the 1991-92 redevelopment were replaced, while the carpets in the Foyer were changed.[11]
Pavilion refurbishment 2024-2025
[edit]It was announced in July 2023 that Trafalgar Theatres who run the cliffs and Southend-on-Sea City Council who own the Cliffs Pavilion 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 Willmot Dixon, and were planned to take a year to complete. The Cliffs management announced that 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][8] 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.[12]
Maritime Room
[edit]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 became home to Jazz, before expanding into Country and Western.[13] 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.[14] Jazz is still a regular event, with both the Jazz Mix and Open Mic club nights taking place at the venue.[15] The venue is currently home to the Balls Out Comedy Club[16] as well as Tropicana 80s nights.[17]
Performances at the Cliffs
[edit]- Jimi Hendrix appeared in February 1967 at the Grand Pop Festival.[18]
- During November in 1986, 1987 and 1988, the Cliffs was the venue for the invitation only snooker event, the Matchroom Professional Championship
- On 19 July 1991, Paul McCartney performed one of his six "secret" shows at the Pavilion during his 1991 Unplugged Summer Tour.[19]
- The Oasis concert film Live By The Sea was filmed at the Cliffs Pavilion during their performance on 17 April 1995.[20] Tony McCarroll recalled in his book, Oasis. The truth that nobody had told him they were filming that night, but luckily they had a storming gig.[21]
- In 2003, the last show of the Bottom Live 2003: Weapons Grade Y-Fronts Tour was performed and recorded for VHS and DVD at the Cliffs.[22]
- The track "Beetlebum" from Blur's Live 2009 CD was recorded at the Cliff's Pavilion (the CD was given away free with The Sunday Times).[23]
- Micky Flanagan performed at the Cliffs in May 2011, which was recorded for his DVD The Out Out Tour.[24]
- After the closure for the COVID pandemic, Jimmy Carr filmed his Netflix special His Dark Material as the first show at the re-opened venue.[24]
Annual Pantomime
[edit]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.[25] Past pantomimes over the last 20 years have included:
- 2000 Peter Pan - Shane Richie and Jeremy Spake[26]
- 2001 Dick Whittington - Hale and Pace[27]
- 2002 Goldilocks and the 3 Bears - Frank Bruno, Sooty and Sophie Lawrence[28]
- 2003 Cinderella - Chuckle Brothers and Dr Evadne Hinge[29]
- 2004 Peter Pan - Russ Abbott[30]
- 2005 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Linda Lusardi, Samuel Kane and Gary Beadle[31]
- 2006 Dick Whittington - Cannon and Ball, Paul Nicholas & Ben Richards[32]
- 2007 Cinderella - Joe Pasquale[33]
- 2008 Aladdin - Chuckle Brothers[34]
- 2009 Cinderella - Brian Conley[35]
- 2010 Peter Pan - Bradley Walsh[36]
- 2011 Aladdin - Shane Richie[37]
- 2012 Cinderella - Shane Richie[38]
- 2013 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Craig Revel Horwood & Lisa Riley[39]
- 2014 Peter Pan - David Hasselhoff & Christopher Biggins[40][34]
- 2015 Cinderella - Brian Conley & Lesley Joseph[35]
- 2016 Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates - Brian Conley and Gok Wan[41]
- 2017 Jack and the Beanstalk - Lee Mead, Bobby Davro, Stacey Solomon, Robin Askwith[42]
- 2018 Aladdin - Diversity - won Best speciality/double act at the 2019 Great British Pantomime Awards[43]
- 2019 Robin Hood and the Merry Men - Diversity[44]
- 2021 Cinderella - Brian Conley[45]
- 2023 Peter Pan - Joe Pasquale & Rob Rinder[46]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Southend's Cliffs Pavilion to undergo major revamp next year". BBC. 15 July 2023.
- ^ Barbara Vesey (2003). The Hidden Places of East Anglia. Including Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Travel Publishing. p. 33. ISBN 9781902007915.
- ^ a b "The new pavilion is taking shape". Southend Star. 11 February 1964. p. 84.
- ^ a b "Southend Cliffs Pavilion: a history of the much-loved theatre venue". Evening Echo. 25 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Ian Yearsley (2016). Southend in 50 Buildings. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445651897.
- ^ "The war with sludge and a seawall". The Municipal Journal, Public Works Engineer and Contractors' Guide. 68 (3515–3528). Municipal Journal: 2463-2466. 1960.
- ^ Elaine Brody, Claire Brook (1975). The Music Guide to Great Britain. England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland. Dodd, Mead. p. 143. ISBN 9780396069553.
- ^ a b "Cliffs Pavilion major £8million refurbishment hit by delays". Evening Echo. 26 February 2024.
- ^ Architects' Working Details. Emap Construct. 1997. p. 135.
- ^ "Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea Opens after refurbishment". Plays and Players. No. 466–471. Hansom Books. 1993. p. 35.
- ^ "Cliffs Pavilion refurbishment". Evening Echo. 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Multi-million theatre revamp due to begin". BBC. 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Peter 'Ponjo' Morris". National Jazz Archive. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "The Joker Comedy Club. Celebrating the best in standup since 1986". Joker Comedy Club. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "What's On". Southend Jazz. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Southend Cliffs Pavilion shows and events April 2024". Evening Echo. 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Tropicana Nights". Trafalgar Tickets. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ 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) - ^ "Paul McCartney concert at Cliffs Pavilion in Westcliff-on-Sea on Jul 19, 1991". The Paul McCartney project. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "Live By The Sea". oasisinet.com. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ Tony McCarroll (2011). Oasis. The Truth. John Blake. ISBN 9781843588184.
- ^ "The Cliffs Pavilion celebrates its 60th Anniversary". Trafalgar Entertainment. 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Blur - Live 2009 - CD promo". www.vblurpage.com. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Trafalgarwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Rylan Clark to star in Cliffs Pavilion pantomime in Southend". Evening Echo. 27 February 2024.
- ^ "Peter Pan handbill". It's behind you. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Dick Whittington". It's behind you. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears handbill". It's behind you. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Preview of Pantomime Dates and Details for 2003/4". It's behind you. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Preview of Pantomime Dates and Details for 2004/5". It's behind you. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Preview of Pantomime Dates and Details for 2005/6". It's behind you. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Pantomime". Comedy King's. The unofficial Cannon and Ball website. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Joe Pasquale to star in Cinderella". BBC. 3 July 2007.
- ^ a b "IN PICTURES: The stage and screen A-listers who have performed in Cliffs Pavilion pantos". Evening Echo. 25 December 2020.
- ^ a b "TV legends set to star in this year's Cliffs Pavilion pantomime". Evening Echo. 27 March 2015.
- ^ "Pantomime". Bradley Walsh.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Shane Richie to star in Cliffs' Christmas panto". Evening Echo. 11 October 2011.
- ^ "Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood to star in Southend Cliffs panto". Evening Echo. 14 January 2013.
- ^ "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs review". What's on Stage. 18 December 2013.
- ^ "US stars in UK panto: From David Hasselhoff to Jerry Hall". The Independent. 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates". National Database of Pantomime Performance. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Bobby Davro on working with Lee Mead in Jack and Beanstalk panto at the Cliffs Pavilion". Evening Echo. 8 December 2017.
- ^ "Robert Lindsay, Clive Rowe and more among Great British Pantomime Awards 2019 winners". What's on Stage. 29 April 2019.
- ^ "Robin Hood and the Merry Men". The Stage. 19 December 2019.
- ^ "Brian Conley's EastEnders break as he appears in Cliffs Pavilion panto". Evening Echo. 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Peter Pan review". The Stage. 20 December 2023.
External links
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51°32′07″N 0°41′49″E / 51.5352°N 0.6969°E
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