Theatre Tour

The Royal Hippodrome Theatre is opening its doors for a guided tour on Wednesday 3 March, run by the Royal Hippodrome Theatre Friends. It's a look at the history of Eastbourne's oldest working theatre, and it takes you into the parts of the building the public don't normally get to see.

If you've spent time in the audience, you've seen the front of house and the stalls, but the tour goes beyond that. You'll get to see the spaces that usually stay hidden when the curtain is up — the backstage areas and the nooks and crannies that keep the place running. It's a chance to see how the theatre actually works from the inside, rather than just watching the show from your seat.

This isn't a one-off, either. The tours run regularly throughout the year, so if the date doesn't suit you, there'll be another one along the way. They're open to the public, and you don't need to be a theatre buff to get something out of it — it's as much about the building itself as it is about the history.

The tour starts at 10.30 am and lasts about an hour and a half, which gives you plenty of time to wander through without feeling rushed. Tickets are £5.