Leas Cliff Hall

Leas Cliff Hall has played a significant role in the history of the Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society (FHODS), serving as one of the society's most prominent performance venues during the latter decades of the twentieth century, most notably as the home of its annual pantomime from the late 1970s through to the early 2000s.

Background

Leas Cliff Hall is an entertainment and function venue situated on The Leas in Folkestone, Kent. Its predecessor, the Leas Shelter, was constructed in 1894 and contained a concert room seating 200 with an orchestra. By 1924 it was decided that a grander hall was needed, and the current building — designed by Norwegian architect J.S. Dahl — was completed in just 28 months. It was formally opened on 13 July 1927 by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, with an inaugural concert by the Folkestone Municipal Orchestra attended by 1,000 people.

The Grand Hall seats 900 and has a standing capacity of 1,500. The building was closed for modernisation on 16 September 1980 and reopened on 6 May 1981. It is currently operated by the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) in partnership with Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

The Pantomime Years

The most significant and enduring association between FHODS and Leas Cliff Hall was the society's annual pantomime. FHODS launched its pantomime tradition in 1975, with early productions staged at the Leas Pavilion Theatre. The pantomime subsequently transferred to Leas Cliff Hall, where it remained for over two decades, becoming a beloved fixture of the Folkestone festive calendar and drawing generations of local families through its doors.

The scale of Leas Cliff Hall — with its 900-seat Grand Hall — allowed FHODS to stage pantomimes on a far grander scale than was possible at its smaller repertory venues. The productions at this period showcased the society's capacity for large-cast, high-production-value work and helped cement FHODS's reputation as one of the most ambitious amateur societies in Kent.

Members of FHODS who participated in the Leas Cliff Hall pantomimes recall them with particular warmth. One long-standing member described joining the Youth Section specifically to perform in the pantomimes of the 1980s at Leas Cliff Hall, an experience she credits as formative in her personal and professional development — and which, notably, led to her meeting her future husband on her very first day.

Large scale productions

Following the closure and eventual demolition of the Pleasure Gardens Theatre in the 1960s, FHODS faced an ongoing challenge in finding suitable venues for large-scale operatic and musical productions. The society adapted by using a variety of civic and commercial spaces, including the Odeon cinema, the Ritz in Hythe, and Folkestone Town Hall. Leas Cliff Hall, with its substantial capacity, represented one of the grander stages available to the society in this period for productions requiring a larger auditorium than FHODS's own premises could provide.

Transition to the Tower Theatre

As the new millennium approached, FHODS had outgrown its home at The Little Theatre in Sandgate and sought a single venue capable of hosting all its productions — from intimate dramas to full-scale musicals and pantomimes. In 2001 the society acquired the former Garrison Church of St Mark at Shorncliffe Camp Barracks, the largest garrison church in the United Kingdom, and converted it into The Tower Theatre. This move brought all FHODS productions under one roof for the first time, ending the society's long-running use of Leas Cliff Hall for its pantomime season.

The Tower Theatre seats 293 patrons and has enabled FHODS to produce six or more shows per year in its own dedicated space, including its continuing annual pantomime.

Legacy

The period during which FHODS performed at Leas Cliff Hall represents an important chapter in both institutions' histories. For the society, the Hall provided a prestigious and well-attended platform at a time when its own premises were comparatively modest. For Leas Cliff Hall, the FHODS pantomime seasons contributed to its identity as the home of Folkestone's live entertainment, complementing its programme of professional touring shows.

Today, both Leas Cliff Hall and The Tower Theatre continue to serve Folkestone's cultural life, offering audiences complementary rather than competing experiences — as one Tower Theatre member observed, the two venues "offer something different" and reflect the broader richness of Folkestone's performing arts landscape.

See also

• Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society
• The Tower Theatre, Folkestone
• Leas Pavilion Theatre
• Pleasure Gardens Theatre

References

• Tower Theatre Folkestone — 'History of FHODS
• Wikipedia — Folkestone-Hythe Operatic & Dramatic Society
• Wikipedia — Leas Cliff Hall
• CommunityAd — Folkestone Hythe Operatic Dramatic Society (FHODS) and Family (December 2021)
• Folke.life — The Tower Theatre: One of the Oldest AmDrams in the UK