Star moved to Brighton after performing at theatre

She said: "The day I arrived at the Theatre Royal Brighton was the day I decided I wanted to live in Brighton.

"I'd been in Sunderland the previous week and it had been grim. The theatre was being refurbished, there hadn't been anything to do in the town and it had been raining relentlessly.

"And then we arrived in Brighton to be greeted by Bill, the stage door manager, a fabulous man with purple hair.

"What's more, the North Laine was buzzing, there were buskers, the sun was shining and I thought: 'This it, I've arrived home.' "We had the most fantastic week with the show here Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tell Me on a Sunday in which she starred and the audiences were brilliant.

"The Theatre Royal Brighton is such a lovely place to perform. Although it's a grand theatre - you can imagine the Queen should be there for every performance, although there are probably loads of queens for every performance - it's an intimate space.

"It would be lovely to work there again, not least because I could walk or cycle to work."

Head of Brighton Festival Jane McMorrow has worked with the theatre at festival time for six years.

She said: "It has been fantastic working with the theatre over the years and there have been lots of memorable moments.

"One that particularly sticks in the mind is a performance called Underground which happened everywhere in the theatre except the stage.

"The audience was taken backstage below stage and into the dressing rooms, it really made use of the historic space.

"It is great that the theatre let us use the theatre in that unvconventional way and are so keen to enter into the spirit of the festival.

"Here's to many more festivals working together."

Jason Griffin, 36, software architect from Falmer, said: "I do come every couple of months - probably about eight to ten times a year - and see a lot of good things, but it is the bad ones you rmember isn't it?"

Gerard Cronin, who works at the University of Sussex, said: "It is vital to have an original theatre like this to get good quality shows coming down to the South and keep Brighton's cultural heart alive.

"It is a fantastic space and attracts some good things."

Sally Dench, of Arundel Street, Brighton, said: "I forget about coming to the theatre for ages then come to see something and remember how good it is here and get on a roll.

"When I lived in London I used to go to the theatre all the time so when I moved down it seemed natural to carry on and it is just as good down here.

"I think the best thing I saw was The Price with Warren Mitchell - it was just really well acted and put together."

John Harrison, 53, from Hove, said he was one of the theatre's most ardent fans and had barely missed a show in the 33 years he has been coming.

He is known as 'Stage Door Johnny' to his friends because of his habit of hanging out by the side entrance to get an autograph and a word with the actors and actresses who perform at the theatre.

He said: "This will be my 926th show - I have kept all the programs.

"I've also got about 15 or 16 books full of autographs from the stars who have performed here - a lot of them are really rare.

"I just love the Theatre Royal Brighton - the staff are brilliant and it is just a fantastic place to go.

"I have always loved theatre since I was knee-high and went to a panto. I couldn't say why - it is just great."

Sue Revell, 56, from Patcham, said: "I think we are very lucky to have a theatre like this here - it is beautiful.

"There is something about the theatre which is just magic."

Keith Revell, from Patcham, said: "I just think the variety of shows are good.

"We have been coming a few times a year for 30 years and I have never seen anything I have been dissapointed with.

"It is also nice to see actors who do well in the West End come down here as well - so you don't have to go up there to see them."

Debbie Shorter, 47, from Patcham, said her favourite moment at the TRB was when she saw her son David perform in his first show at age 16 - an amateur production of West Side Story.

She said: "I cried.

"It was wonderful to see him on a stage like that. He loves acting and wants to go on to do it professionally and it is great he has had the chance to perform in such a good theatre.

"I really like the fact the venue offers that opportunity to am dram groups in the city - some of their shows are just as good as the professional ones."

Sue Bath, 57, from Woodingdean, said: "You can't go to Brighton without going to the Theatre Royal Brighton - it is part of Brighton.

"Especially now they are sorting the road out - it will become a real focal point and cultural centre.

Carol Scott-Wood, 56, from Woodingdean, said: "It is the mainstay of good old-fashioned traditional theatre.

"It is a good balance to all the alternative stuff going on at other venues through the city.

"It focuses on classic shows which come back again and again and where else could you put on the panto?"

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