Connaught Theatre
A historic Streamline Moderne theatre and cinema in central Worthing, West Sussex.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Connaught Theatre is a combined theatre and cinema venue in the centre of Worthing, West Sussex, England. Its present building began life as the Picturedrome cinema, which opened in July 1914 on the site of Stanmore Lodge. The original auditorium had a single seating tier, four rear boxes and an unusual octagonal plan, accommodating approximately 850 people. The venue was designed as a cinema, but its later transformation into a repertory theatre made it an uncommon example of a British cinema being converted for theatrical use rather than following the more typical reverse transition seen during the twentieth century. The Connaught name originated in adjacent premises. Connaught Buildings were constructed beside the Picturedrome in 1916, with a passage connecting the street to the cinema. The buildings included Connaught Hall, which began presenting vaudeville entertainment in 1917. In April 1931 the hall received a theatre licence under Walter Lindsay, a former London theatre director. A full repertory season followed in autumn 1932, with Terence De Marney taking a directorial role and actor and comedian Bill Fraser associated with the operation. The theatre and cinema operated alongside one another until 1935, when the Worthing Repertory Company moved into the former Picturedrome because it had outgrown the Connaught Buildings. The building was renamed Connaught Theatre and its entrance was enlarged and remodelled in an Art Deco or Streamline Moderne style. The redevelopment created the architectural identity that largely defines the venue today. The first production in the enlarged theatre was Theatre Royal, presented on 30 September 1935 as part of a special opening-week programme. The venue developed a strong reputation for repertory theatre and for providing early professional opportunities to performers who later became prominent in stage, screen and television work. Associated names include Elizabeth Spriggs, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Ian Holm, Glenda Jackson, Susannah York, Charles Morgan, Maria Charles, Alan Ayckbourn, Harold Pinter, Vivien Merchant, Marina Sirtis and Robert Blythe. Winston Churchill visited in 1956 to see his daughter Sarah perform in Terence Rattigan's Variation on a Theme. Playwright Robin Maugham also premiered and directed works at the theatre, including The Claimant and Winter in Ischia. The theatre temporarily closed during the Second World War. Afterward, it was managed on behalf of owner Carl Adolf Seebold by interests associated with the J. Arthur Rank Organisation, whose repertory policy emphasised employing young performers. Seebold's lease was sold in 1950, but the venue later struggled financially and closed in 1966. Local campaigners persuaded Worthing Borough Council to acquire and operate the theatre, allowing productions to resume in 1967. The revived programme included The Beggar's Opera, described as the first opera performed in Worthing for 136 years. A 1972 remodelling reduced and modernised the auditorium to its current capacity of 512 seats and introduced film-projection facilities. Those facilities became a regular part of the venue's operation from 1987, when Connaught Theatre adopted its present dual theatre-and-cinema role. The adjacent Connaught Studio, formerly the Ritz cinema, provides an additional screen and performance-related space. It was also used for the short-lived End of the Pier International Film Festival. The venue continues to present touring West End productions, plays, musicals, thrillers, dramas, children's shows and cinema screenings, supported by facilities including a licensed bar, cloakroom, accessible amenities and nearby parking.
History
Connaught Theatre occupies a building whose earliest major use was as the Picturedrome cinema. Designed by Eastbourne architect Peter Dulvey Stonham, the cinema opened in July 1914 on the former site of Stanmore Lodge. Its auditorium was arranged on an octagonal plan, with seating for about 850 people in one tier and four boxes at the rear. In 1916, Connaught Buildings were erected beside the cinema and provided a new street entrance and passageway. The name appears to have been associated with Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathern and Earl of Sussex. The adjacent Connaught Hall broadened the site’s entertainment role when it became a venue for vaudeville in 1917. In April 1931 it was licensed as a theatre by Walter Lindsay, previously a London theatre director. Repertory theatre developed there, with the first full season beginning in autumn 1932. Terence De Marney became involved as director, while Bill Fraser was among the performers and theatre figures associated with the early operation. The original cinema was refurbished in 1933 to plans by A. T. Goldsmith. The work added a first-floor cocktail bar and lounge above the original auditorium. In 1935 the Worthing Repertory Company moved from the smaller Connaught Buildings into the former Picturedrome. The entrance on Union Place was rebuilt as a two-storey, three-bay rendered façade with a parapet, giving the building its Streamline Moderne character. The renamed Connaught Theatre opened its new theatrical chapter with Theatre Royal on 30 September 1935. This conversion from cinema to theatre was unusual in Britain, where many theatres were instead being converted into cinemas during the same period. The theatre’s postwar history included a temporary wartime closure and later management on behalf of Carl Adolf Seebold by a group connected with the J. Arthur Rank Organisation. The organisation’s policy of engaging young actors helped make the venue an important repertory platform. Several performers who later achieved wider recognition appeared there, including Glenda Jackson, Susannah York, Charles Morgan and Maria Charles. Alan Ayckbourn acted in productions during the 1950s. Harold Pinter worked at the theatre under the stage name David Baron, and his first wife, Vivien Merchant, also appeared there. Robin Maugham wrote, directed and premiered plays at the venue, including The Claimant in 1962 and Winter in Ischia in 1964. Marina Sirtis began her professional repertory career at Connaught in 1976. Ownership changed in April 1950 when Seebold sold the lease. The theatre later experienced declining fortunes and closed in 1966. A local campaign led Worthing Borough Council to purchase and operate the venue, enabling productions to restart in 1967. Among the early post-reopening presentations was The Beggar’s Opera, identified as the first opera performed in Worthing for 136 years. Further council support was provided after temporary closures in the 1970s. The auditorium was remodelled in 1972, bringing capacity to 512 seats and adding facilities for film projection. From 1987, cinema became a regular part of the building’s programme, establishing the theatre’s current dual-use identity. The neighbouring Connaught Studio, previously known as the Ritz cinema, complements the main venue with a smaller screen and event space. It hosted the short-lived End of the Pier International Film Festival. In 2014 Connaught Theatre marked a century of operation at the site. Today it remains a Worthing cultural venue presenting touring productions, plays, musicals, dramas, children's shows and cinema.
- 2014
Centenary commemorated
[1]The venue marks one hundred years since the opening of the original Picturedrome building.
- 1987
Regular cinema use begins
[1]Theatre and cinema functions become an established combined operating model.
- 1972
Auditorium is remodelled
[1]Remodelling sets the auditorium's capacity at 512 seats and introduces film-projection facilities.
- 1967
Council operation restores productions
[1]Worthing Borough Council acquires and operates the theatre, allowing performances to resume. The Beggar's Opera is among the early productions.
- 1966
The theatre closes
[1]After a period of difficulty, Connaught Theatre closes, prompting a local campaign to preserve the venue.
- 1935
Picturedrome becomes Connaught Theatre
[1]The Worthing Repertory Company moves into the former cinema, whose façade is rebuilt in a Moderne style. Theatre Royal opens the new theatre on 30 September.
- 1932
Full repertory season begins
[1]The first full season of repertory theatre begins in autumn, with Terence De Marney involved as director.
- 1931
The venue receives a theatre licence
[1]Walter Lindsay secures a theatre licence for Connaught Hall, establishing the institutional basis for the later theatre operation.
- 1917
Connaught Hall begins vaudeville programming
[1]The hall in the adjoining buildings becomes a venue for vaudeville entertainment.
- 1916
Connaught Buildings are constructed
[1]Adjacent Connaught Buildings are erected and linked to the Picturedrome by an entrance passage.
Products and positioning
A civic and cultural entertainment venue combining historic repertory-theatre heritage with contemporary touring theatre, cinema and community-facing programming.
Theatre and cinema auditorium · 1935
Main Auditorium
The principal 512-seat auditorium presents touring theatre, plays, musicals, dramas, thrillers and children's productions. Following the 1972 remodelling, it also gained film-projection capability and has operated regularly as a cinema since 1987. Its architectural character reflects the 1935 Streamline Moderne redevelopment of the former Picturedrome.
Cinema and event space
Connaught Studio
The adjacent Connaught Studio, formerly known as the Ritz cinema, provides an additional screen and venue space. It has hosted film-related programming, including the short-lived End of the Pier International Film Festival.
Sources2 sources
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