Tours are being held of Clacton’s historic Princes Theatre to mark the venue’s 90th anniversary.
The guided tours will be led by theatre staff, explaining the history of the venue and about how a modern theatre operates, and include behind the curtain and backstage access.
Designed in 1926, construction began two years later and the theatre was officially opened in 1931 sitting within the Grade II-listed Clacton Town Hall.
The tours form part of the Clacton 150 programme of events, marking the 150th birthday of Clacton as a town. It is free to attend, but tickets must be booked in advance so numbers can be managed effectively.
The Princes Theatre, run by Tendring District Council (TDC) will also host an historical walk through of the history of Clacton On-Sea with unseen photographs and slide show.
Alex Porter, TDC Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, said the tours promised to be fascinating.
“Whether you love history in general, or the mystique of the theatre, I heartily recommend going on a tour of the Princes Theatre,” Councillor Porter said.
“This will be a great morning or afternoon where you can reminisce and connect with the history and heritage of both the theatre and Clacton.”
Tours take place at 10am and 1pm on Sunday, 11 July, and refreshments will be available.
Tickets can be booked, for free, from the Princes Theatre’s new-look website at www.princestheatre.co.uk, by calling 01255 68 66 33 (Option 1), or visiting the Box Office at Clacton Town Hall between 10am-1pm Monday-Wednesday.
The Clacton 150 celebrations received £250,000 from the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
People and businesses are encouraged to hold their own events and activities to celebrate Clacton 150, and share details with the co-ordinating team at clacton150@tendringdc.gov.uk.
