White Rock

A handsome building in Spanish Colonial style on a rising site; a landmark on the seafront. Rendered façade with brick-coloured band at upper floor level, where the windows are grouped to give an impression of an open loggia, above which is a deep entablature and overhanging eaves to Roman tiled roof. The front facing the sea has a broad bowed centre with tall arched entrances, above which the ‘loggia’ storey is expressed as a continuous glazed band. On either side are slightly taller corner blocks with pyramidal roofs with apex finials. These blocks have two well-modelled, coloured faience roundels above the ground floor windows on each of the front and return elevations.

The auditorium was refurbished and redecorated in 1985 in a style now beginning to look old-fashioned. Notwithstanding the presence of a proscenium stage, this is essentially a concert hall, uncomfortably wide and with imperfect sightlines for theatrical use. The circle overhangs the stalls by eight rows. Hinged doors conceal front of house lights at circle level. The stage is not deep and has restricted wing space with no cross-over. Get-in is from the rear street which, due to the sharp rise in the ground, necessitates the use of a lift down to stage level.

In the basement there is a good studio space (Sussex Hall) with a dance floor and a small platform stage. There are ample dressing rooms and a large green room which can be used for rehearsals.

A careful remodelling of the auditorium could make the place more attractive and flexible, and improve ticket sales in what is a particularly well-sited venue.