Memories of meeting stars of the stage

"It was the first night, wonderful, very powerful, and I was taken backstage to meet Lynn Fontanne.

"She was a very gracious lady, beautifully turned out with a very quiet, beautiful soft accent. I remember her walking past a coffin onstage as part of the show, flicking it with a beautifully manicured finger and saying 'Pretty, isn't it?' "Although the show was billed as a comedy, it was quite frightening, and the audience sat in shocked silence at the end before the applause. After one show, I heard there was a woman sitting motionless in the front row after the other audience goers had left. The cleaners eventually nudged her shoulder, and found she was dead, died of shock."

Tim Gallagher said: "I was at the special charity adult performance of the pantomime in 2000 when who should appear on stage but Robbie Williams.

"He'd been sitting in the director's box away from the public's view for most of the time, then he came onstage on what was quite a unique night.

"Skater Robin Cousins had been performing at the Brighton Centre and he appeared too, and I was accompanied by the parents of local dance act Phats and Small, who'd had a number two hit with 'Turn Around'."

Steve Steggall said: "In February 1985 the great actor Charlton Heston appeared at the Theatre Royal in Herman Wouk's 'The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial'.

"Heston was directing the play and only came on during the third act.

"However, as soon as he appeared on the stage, the whole audience rose to its feet.

"He filled the stage without saying a word and had everyone at his feet.

"I was gobsmacked that such a major American star should be appearing onstage here in Brighton."

G Maxwell said: "My grandmother, born in 1862, worked in the bar of the Theatre Royal. When royalty attended the theatre, it was her duty to wait on the royal visitors, serving them their drinks during the interval.

"For this special job, she had to wear kid gloves, supplied by the management which, I understand, then cost sixpence (now 2 1/2p) per pair. She was then permitted to keep the gloves for her own personal use.

"Apparently she had very lovely hair. One day, two men were having an argument in the bar. She was furious when she discovered that they were placing bets as to whether her hair was real, or a wig."

Actress Emma Bird said: "I had an absolutely brilliant time at the Theatre Royal when touring with the National Theatre, "My first impressions of backstage was how tiny it was. The stairs leading to the dressing rooms were narrow - and me, crawling up the stairs to the very top room to get changed.

"On stage though, it was wonderful. I was surprised at how close the front rows were to the stage - and how the plush red seats almost seemed to fluorescently glow in the dark. It was a very intimate space to play in.

"I loved popping to the pub next door - it's very much part of the theatre tradition with lots of photos of actors on the walls.

"Experiencing what was, for me, a very rocky tour with the company over six months, appearing at the Theatre Royal was my highlight. I loved being in Brighton so much that I moved here a few years later."

Peter Cunningham, Friend of Theatre Royal Brighton, said: "I've met Marlene Dietrich in London and Brighton. She had a red carpet laid from the stage to her dressing room and the story goes she had the dressing room repainted.

"After the show I came round to see her and gave her a gift and I suppose having seen such an illusion of how she played the curtain and then seeing her and meeting her, it was wonderful. She was a great performer."

Margaret Leeds, Friend of Theatre Royal Brighton, said: "We lived in Hong Kong and came on a long leave to England. I had to entertain the children so I took them to the theatre one night and I ordered a box.

"It was only £28 at the time, 30 odd years ago. It was a hilarious play with Arthur Lowe in it as a headmaster. He was fantastic.

"My children thought it was fantastic and muttered about it for years afterwards. I love the old fitting and the pictures in the theatre."

Keith Banks, Friend of Theatre Royal Brighton, said: "My grandmother used to come every week and I remember I saw a small stage production of 'A Visit to a Small Planet' and that was really the start of when I got the theatre bug.

"In those days the seats had a gangway down the middle and you could order tea and a lady would come around in a little waitress suit and would serve you tea at the interval. It was very gentile.

"It's changed a bit since then. Certainly in the last 15 years it's changed a lot."

Gareth Tweeny said: "The post-war years brought us 'Separate Tables' and 'The Deep Blue Sea' by Terence Rattigan, with a memorable performance by the young Peggy Ashcroft in the latter play. In my memory I can still see her, kneeling with her hands on her lover's knee, in supplication and grief.

"Up in 'the gods' you heard every word and saw everything as well, if you chose the best seats. Those were the days of slow speech and good elocution, and, as an old lady, I welcome their occasional return.

"Then from the 1960s onwards we had to make adjustments for the arrival of the 'kitchen sink' dramas of John Osborne including 'Look Back in Anger'.

"Next we took on board the American imports Tennessee Williams with his 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.

"These were new, innovative, exciting - but some of the glamour had gone.

"The Theatre Royal flourished under the management of J Baxter Somerville, whose imposing figure could be seen mingling with the crowds in the foyer.

"Finally tribute must be paid to Lewis Cohen and his wife, sitting regularly in their box on the left facing the stage, for doing so much to keep the Theatre Royal alive and running during the dark days when it had been in danger of closing.

"Long may its doors stay open."

Caroline Caudwell, 45, of Hove, said: "I came to see 'Sleuth'. I was up in a box, a lady down in the stalls had had too much too drink and eventually she fell asleep. She woke up with a start and shouted 'This is SO boring'.

"The actors paused for a second and then carried on. She had to be taken out of the theatre."

Juliet Sydenham, 74, of Preston Park, said: "The seats are more comfortable than they used to be, especially the stalls.

"Over time the programmes have become more mainstream, they've tried to make the programme more acceptable.

"I don't mind what kind of show it is if it's going to be good. I come about 12 times a year."

Paul Ridler, 78, of Freshfield Road, Brighton, said: "I used to teach at Brighton College. I brought more than 40 boys to see 'The Marriage of Figaro'. They liked it so much they made all their parents go to see it. They couldn't help but enjoy it. It was one of the best things I've ever done."

Margaret Ridler, 77, said: "We first came in 1972. We used to walk down from Freshfield Road, it's not so easy for us now. We loved the Soweto Gospel Choir and Dancing at Lunasha.

"We're mainly attracted to shows with a musical content. Also anything Irish we tend to go to."

Jenny Clench, 54, of Hove Park Villas, Hove, said: "I first came 25 years ago, it was a dance show, Ballet Rambert I think. I think the Theatre Royal is a fairly stable institution. The seats are generally uncomfortable.

"A fund raiser with Pete McCarthy and Eddie Izzard. That was the most memorable. I cried with laughter."

Murigen Calder, from Brighton, said: "It is a great theatre although a bit uncomfortable. We only like the front row in the Royal Circle. The first time we came we couldn't see anything. The second time was 'The Seafarer'. It was fantastic."

Michael LeGarst, of Bloomsbury Place, said: "One of the most wonderful things I have seen was the alternative pantomime. It was a big community event, huge fun, deeply warm. It's a pity it didn't continue."

Andrew McGuffog, 60, of Bloomsbury Place, Brighton, said: "We first came 30 years ago when we lived in Bletchingley. We saw 'The Magic Flute' by Kent Opera. The three boys who should lead all the characters on were mounted on wobbly step ladders which made leading a bit difficult."

Fay Greenhalgh, 33, of Lewes, said: "I came to see Aladdin a couple of years ago, starring a woman from Southern Counties Radio - Joanne Goode. It was fabulous fun."

Gabrielle Healy, 64, of Brighton, said: "I saw The Real Thing with Neal Pearson, it was excellent, he used to be in 'Between The Lines'. And we saw him after the show and said hello."

Vincent Doherty, 38, of Dublin, said: "It's a beautiful building"

Jane MacDonald, 49, of Hartington Road, Brighton, said: "When I go to the Theatre Royal, I think of the lovely pub next door. I like the fact they ring a bell to tell you when the show's starting. And the pub's not overpriced.

"I first went to the Theatre Royal about 25 years ago, I think the stalls and the lower circle have great views, but not if you're right up high. I've been to a lot of shows, I'd be very sad if the theatre wasn't there."

Marion Cullwick, 52, of Hartington Road, Brighton, said: "Sadly I've outgrown the Theatre Royal - the seats are not very generous.

"I quite like it, as it's an old theatre. I like its style but I'd like it to be more comfortable."

Andrew Kay, 51, of Saltdean, said: "I love the smell. I like it when you walk in the auditorium and the heavy velvet curtains are down and you can't see the set. It gives you a real sense of theatre. Lots of productions now don't use the tabs and I think it spoils the anticipation.

"I like the fact that contemporary pressures on programming have broadened the demographic. Whilst the inclusion of TV stars is criticised by some people, it's perhaps brought people into the theatre who might not have gone otherwise.

"I remember going into David Land's office for the first time - it was like Aladdin's cave, full of the most marvellous memorabilia."

Liz Hall, 43, of Islingword Place, Brighton, said: "All my memories are quite fond, actually. I first went 20 years ago. I remember going to see Dr Who with my friend in it. 'Aida' was particularly entertaining, seeing them fit a cast of thousands into such a small space."

Jim Evans, 47, from Brighton, is a fan of the Rocky Horror Show. He said: "Any excuse to dress up. Ive been many times before over the years in London, Southampton and Brighton. I just want to have a lot of fun and laughter and have some audience participation."