Local Reviews
In August 2015, WestHighland said about Royal Hippodrome Theatre
I hadn't visited Eastbourne for a few summers, but returned this year and having been to the Hippodrome in the past, I booked to see the variety show Hooray for Hollywood. I thought it was going to be a professional show, so was disappointed to discover that it was all amateurs. Perhaps I should have realised when there were no star names on the poster. The performers certainly put a lot of energy into it, but it was a show that definitely needed better direction and much better choreography - and it would have been worth spending some money to have professionals do this. The director clearly had little idea of staging or how to position people on the stage. So many items almost worked, but not quite. The choreographer clearly devised just one dance routine per song and had everyone on stage doing exactly the same steps. Watching dancers doing the same thing in unison each time gets very monotonous and it needed some imagination.
The set was very lacklustre for a show of that title, which suggested glamour and glitz, and a lot of the movie clips weren't even Hollywood films....it made me feel that where there was time to fill, the director just put in some more film clips, whether relevant or not..
The compere certainly tried hard and I so desperately wanted him to be good, and yet each time it didn't quite work. And the John Inman walk combined with the Frank Spencer facial expressions got a little tiresome after a while....and so many of the gags were of the, "oh come on, laugh, I'm trying my best here" type to lower the audience's expectations, as if to say, "we're only amateurs, so it doesn't matter" - but the ticket prices aren't that cheap and people expect to see a good show.
So overall I felt very disappointed. It had so much potential, but for me it just didn't work. It's a lovely old theatre and it looks like a fantastic programme of shows coming up, so it's a shame that the summer season lets it down. Maybe next year it can return to a proper, professional variety show?
The set was very lacklustre for a show of that title, which suggested glamour and glitz, and a lot of the movie clips weren't even Hollywood films....it made me feel that where there was time to fill, the director just put in some more film clips, whether relevant or not..
The compere certainly tried hard and I so desperately wanted him to be good, and yet each time it didn't quite work. And the John Inman walk combined with the Frank Spencer facial expressions got a little tiresome after a while....and so many of the gags were of the, "oh come on, laugh, I'm trying my best here" type to lower the audience's expectations, as if to say, "we're only amateurs, so it doesn't matter" - but the ticket prices aren't that cheap and people expect to see a good show.
So overall I felt very disappointed. It had so much potential, but for me it just didn't work. It's a lovely old theatre and it looks like a fantastic programme of shows coming up, so it's a shame that the summer season lets it down. Maybe next year it can return to a proper, professional variety show?
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2016, Dommac said about Royal Hippodrome Theatre
Good performance but over priced and expensive for the show. THe children enjoyed it but it only lasted an hour. We had our original booking cancelled and had to choose another day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2016, marilyng721 said about Royal Hippodrome Theatre
I Love this theatre. The volunteers do an amazing job. The show was very good, I enjoyed it as much as my eight year old granddaughter.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2016, bugsmummy said about Royal Hippodrome Theatre
Lovely atmospheric theatre. Went with children & grandparents & we all had a fantastic time. Loved every minute.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2016, nigelhall18 said about Royal Hippodrome Theatre
My 4 year old grandson and I loved this wonderful production - he was entranced from the moment the lights came up to the rousing chorus at the end. The cast are fantastically enthusiastic and the Royal Hippodrome (so apt!) is a perfect little theatre. Well done all.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2016, elizabethwW485TB said about Royal Hippodrome Theatre
Apart from wanting to smack Shelia Hippo & Hercules hippo it was fine. As it was aimed at children I'm sure it was fine my granddaughter enjoyed it.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2016, MGreve said about Royal Hippodrome Theatre
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Hippodrome, the show was great and all the staff were very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2016, Alan B said about Royal Hippodrome Theatre
Everything about this Show was faultless . For a 3-year old grandchild it was absorbing and ' Walliams ' humour was appreciated by the grandparents ! Very good voices from a very hard-working cast .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In January 2017, gg666 said about Royal Hippodrome Theatre
Took my daughter to see a show here after Xmas. ( The first Hippo on the Moon)
The theatre is very old looking inside and out it really needs to come out of the dark ages.
The staff was lovely but the show was poor lots of cardboard cutouts the acting very amateur the props very dated only about 50 people there. I wonder why? Defo would not rushing back there. I did not feel the nearly £50 for the tickets was money well spent. That's my opinion others may differ.
The theatre is very old looking inside and out it really needs to come out of the dark ages.
The staff was lovely but the show was poor lots of cardboard cutouts the acting very amateur the props very dated only about 50 people there. I wonder why? Defo would not rushing back there. I did not feel the nearly £50 for the tickets was money well spent. That's my opinion others may differ.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In February 2017, lethiferous said about Royal Hippodrome Theatre
Enjoyed the circus of horrors in beautiful historic surroundings. A little tired looking but this takes nothing away from the enjoyment. Support local theatres, so further generations can soak up the atmosphere .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk