Official Visitor Website
Back to Attractions Attractions

Gorleston Pavilion Theatre

The Gorleston Pavilion is an original Edwardian seaside theatre situated on the East coast of Norfolk and offers unique seating at cabaret style candle-lit tables.

Description
Description

The Pavilion Theatre has had a varied life and didn’t even start out as a Theatre …

Exactly 100 years ago, the Great Yarmouth Council invited tenders for what was then known as the Shelter Hall. It was going to be part of a general improvement and landscaping which, with an open air bandstand, would transform Gorleston from a fishing village to a seaside resort. But there were councillors who opposed the plans and wanted the money spent on housing improvements instead.

The Pavilion plan survived and the borough engineer, J.W. Cockrill, came up with an imposing Italian-style terracotta building, which opened a year later. Keith Prowse, later of ticket agency fame, was the first lessee, offering band concerts before George Gilbert – the horse-man and showman behind the Hippodrome Circuses in Yarmouth and Lowestoft – took over the running for five years. He showed films in a building which has proved its versatility down the years.The Gorleston Pavilion is an original Edwardian seaside theatre situated on the East coast of Norfolk and offers a unique mix of plays pantomimes, musicals and summer comedy show. Seating is arranged in a cabaret style at candle-lit tables.