Princess Theatre

Opened as the Capitol Cinema, a conversion of a hotel called Simpsons and built for occasional use as theatre. Of frame construction with local carrstone facing, stands on the sea front but partly on the north side masked by a row of late nineteenth century residences with modern co-ordinated bungalow shop fronts. A single storey entrance and foyer extension built in 1998 quietly designed in metal and glass. The auditorium is a simple exercise in 1930s design with stripped classical plaster decoration to the proscenium arch. A shallow moulded flat ceiling, and rather naive box on each return wall. Raked floor and balcony of typical cinema proportions and sightlines. A very lively theatre with a diverse programme.