
A historic theatre on Eastbourne seafront
First opened in 1883, the Royal Hippodrome Theatre is one of the oldest surviving theatres in the country. Designed by renowned theatre architect C. J. Phipps, it retains its ornate Victorian features while offering a welcoming and intimate setting for modern audiences. Its prime seafront position makes it a recognisable and much-loved part of Eastbourne’s cultural life.
Live shows for every generation
As one of the most established theatres in Eastbourne, the venue presents a diverse programme of live shows throughout the year. Audiences can enjoy touring musicals, tribute acts, stand-up comedy nights and seasonal pantomime, alongside performances from local drama groups and dance schools. This balance of professional productions and community talent keeps the theatre lively, relevant and accessible.
More than just performances
Beyond the stage, the theatre is known for its popular ghost tours, offering a fascinating glimpse into the building’s history and backstage stories. There are also opportunities to volunteer as an usher or backstage supporter, helping sustain local arts in a hands-on way. Supporters can join the Friends of RHT programme, contributing to the preservation of this historic entertainment venue in Eastbourne.
To book tickets, enquire about upcoming performances or learn more about volunteering, call or email Royal Hippodrome Theatre box office.
Saw "We Will Rock You" last night, by the EODS.... fabulous performance 👏 wonderful little Theatre... looking forward to seeing more in the near future 😀
We went to see the west end divas which was really good.what a beautiful little theatre with very friendly staff
Intimate theatre with lots of character. We went to see West End Divas. Great seats in the stalls & a fabulous trio of female performers smashing out memorable songs from …
Very nice theatre to watch a show
Great show last night. LET THERE BE LOVE.
The Rattonians Bring A Christmas Spectacular to Eastbourne
20/10/2026
The following Cookies are used on this site. Users who allow all the Cookies will enjoy the best experience and all functionality on the site will be available to you.
You can choose to disable any of the Cookies by un-ticking the box below but if you do so your experience with the Site is likely to be diminished.
In order to interact with this site.
To show content from Google Maps.
To show content from YouTube.
To show content from Vimeo.
To share content across multiple platforms.
To view and book events.
To show user avatars and twitter feeds.
To show content from TourMkr.
To interact with Facebook.
To show content from WalkInto.