Kings Theatre, Grade II* listed theatre in Southsea, England
Kings Theatre is a Grade II* listed theatre in Southsea, England, recognizable by its stone tower and richly detailed facade facing the street. Inside, the building holds around 1,600 seats arranged across a traditional layout with a stalls level, balcony, and an upper circle.
Frank Matcham, the architect behind many of Britain's Victorian theatres, designed this building, which opened on September 30, 1907 with a production of Charles I. Over the following decades it went through several phases of restoration before receiving its current listed status.
The Kings Theatre is known for its annual pantomime season, which draws families from across the area every winter. This tradition fills the auditorium in a way that few other local events manage throughout the year.
The theatre sits in the heart of Southsea and is easy to reach on foot from central Portsmouth. Booking in advance is a good idea for popular shows, as the auditorium fills up quickly.
In 1974, the theatre was used to film the Pinball Wizard sequence for the rock opera film Tommy, with The Who and Elton John performing on its stage. Visitors walking through the auditorium today are standing in the same space where those scenes were shot.
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