Leas Pavilion Theatre

The Leas Pavilion Theatre in Folkestone, Kent, held an important place in the history of the Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society (FHODS). From the post-war resumption of theatrical activity in 1947 through to the mid-1980s, the Pavilion served as one of the society's principal venues for dramatic productions and, crucially, as the original home of the FHODS annual pantomime.

Background

The Leas Pavilion was originally opened in 1902 as a purpose-built Edwardian tearoom, designed by local architect Reginald Pope and constructed partially below ground at the instruction of the Earl of Radnor to avoid obstructing light to nearby buildings. Its elaborately decorated terracotta façade, Art Nouveau ironwork grilles, and distinctive stained glass make it a notable example of Edwardian seaside architecture.

Concert parties were introduced on a makeshift platform from 1906, followed by popular vaudeville acts. In 1928, the building underwent significant alterations to convert it into a 200-seat theatre and concert hall, with a proper stage introduced at the far end of the hall and the northern gallery removed to create space. The venue subsequently operated as a repertory theatre for 57 years. It was forced to close during the Second World War (1940–1945) but emerged undamaged and resumed theatrical use afterwards. Despite improvements to seating, staging, and wiring carried out in 1979, dwindling audiences and changing entertainment habits led to its final performance in August 1985. The building later became the Leas Club, a bar and entertainment venue, before falling into disrepair. It is Grade II listed.

FHODS at the Leas Pavilion Theatre

Dramatic Productions (1947–1965)

From 1947, FHODS used the Leas Pavilion Theatre as a regular venue for its dramatic productions, running alongside its larger operatic programme at the Pleasure Gardens Theatre. The Pavilion's intimate 200-seat auditorium made it well-suited to dramatic works that did not require the scale of a full operatic stage.

The Leas Pavilion Archive records a substantial catalogue of FHODS productions at the venue across this period. These include plays as varied as Ann Veronica (March 1951), Dear Octopus (March 1952), You Can't Take It With You (February 1954), Fools Rush In (April 1957), Angels In Love or The Perils of Purity (January 1959), Thunder Rock (January 1961), The Waltz of the Toreadors (February 1962), Under Milk Wood (March 1963), A Streetcar Named Desire (March 1964), and The Wind of Heaven (March 1965). This output demonstrates both the ambition and the range of FHODS's dramatic programme, with the society tackling challenging contemporary and classic texts alongside lighter fare.

This period of use overlapped with FHODS's operation of the Ham Yard Theatre (from 1952), a 57-seat space developed from part of the Queen's Hotel annexe in Church Street. The two venues served complementary purposes: the Ham Yard for more intimate and frequent productions, and the Leas Pavilion for productions requiring a larger stage and audience capacity.

The Pantomime (1975–1983)

The most celebrated chapter of the FHODS–Leas Pavilion relationship was the society's annual pantomime. FHODS launched its pantomime tradition in 1975, with the Leas Pavilion Theatre as its first home. The Leas Pavilion Archive records the following FHODS pantomimes at the venue:

• 1976 | Cinderella | 7–17 January 1976
• 1977 | Aladdin | 5–15 January 1977
• 1978 | Dick Whittington and His Cat| 10–21 January 1978
• 1979 | Jack and the Beanstalk | 9–20 January 1979
• 1981 | Humpty Dumpty | 6–17 January 1981
• 1983 | Cinderella | 11–22 January 1983
• 1984 | Mother Goose | 10–21 January 1984
• 1985 | Goldilocks and the Three Bears | 8–19 January 1985

These productions, running for approximately ten days each in January, were an important fixture in the local entertainment calendar and introduced many Folkestone families to the FHODS tradition of amateur theatre. The January dates were typical of the repertory theatre pantomime season, immediately following the Christmas and New Year period.

The pantomime at the Leas Pavilion continued until 1985 — the venue's final year as a working theatre. When the Pavilion closed in August 1985, FHODS transferred its pantomime to the Leas Cliff Hall, where it continued for over two decades.

Significance

The Leas Pavilion Theatre was central to FHODS's dramatic identity in the post-war decades. While the society's operatic work found its home at the Pleasure Gardens Theatre and, after its demolition in the 1960s, at larger civic and commercial venues, the Pavilion provided a consistent and intimate home for drama. It was also the cradle of what became one of FHODS's most enduring traditions: the annual pantomime, which the society carries on to this day at The Tower Theatre in Shorncliffe.

The closure of the Leas Pavilion in 1985 marked the end of a significant era for FHODS and for Folkestone's wider theatrical landscape. The building's subsequent decline and ongoing campaign for restoration have remained a subject of public interest in the town; a petition launched in 2016 attracted over 31,000 signatures in support of restoring the Pavilion as a heritage and performance venue.

See Also

• Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society
• The Tower Theatre
• Leas Cliff Hall
• Pleasure Gardens Theatre

References

• Leas Pavilion Archive — FHODS Productions at the Leas Pavilion
• Tower Theatre Folkestone — History of FHODS
• Wikipedia — [Folkestone-Hythe Operatic & Dramatic Society
• Historic England — The Leas Club (List Entry 1392353)
• Ant Yapi — The Leas Pavilion: A History
• Theatres Trust — Leas Pavilion
• Kent Online — A News Leas of Life for Pavilion (July 2022)