The Theatre Royal Brighton has entertained audiences for more than 200 years, it has been graced by royalty and staged some breath-taking performances.

The Grade II listed building is one of the oldest continuously operating, purpose-built theatres in the country.

Thousands have entered and left the building but some have made it their eternal home and on the eve of Halloween the Argus was invited to explore the theatre and uncover some of its scariest ghost stories.

The dressing rooms corridor where The Grey Lady is spotted (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta / The Argus) The Grey Lady, dressing rooms corridor

The Grey Lady ghost was reported in 1960 in the backstage area by the theatre’s then-manager, Melville Gilliam, although there had been other sightings before.

She was seen again some ten years later by another manager, Jack Keates, in the number one dressing room.

Although there have been other sightings of the Grey Lady in that dressing room, she has made subsequent appearances in other parts of the building.

In 1976 the apparition of a woman wearing a grey chiffon dress appeared in the otherwise empty bar close to the theatre’s entrance. Joy Merta, who at that time ran the bar, described the woman in grey as “A very gentle lady who was in no way frightening, but before I could say anything, with a sweet smile she vanished.”

Under the stage where the boy is reportedly spotted (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta / The Argus) The boy under the stage 

There is a sad story of a ghost of a young boy who drowned when he was trying to pump out the flooded under stage area.

Emily Byfield-Riches, communications manager at the theatre, said: “Under the stage is where the Victorian pump that was reportedly operated by a boy when the water rose and drowned him.”

Apparently his ghost appeared at the side of the stage dripping wet.

Ellen Nye Charts seat G16 (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta / The Argus) Henry and Ellen Nye Chart, the auditorium and Royal Circle Bar

In 1892, Ellen Nye Chart, wife of former owner Henry, died and since then she has been reportedly spotted walking through the auditorium or, most frequently, sitting in her favourite seat in the Royal Circle – seat G16.

Some have just seen the seat lowered while passing through, while others have seen the outline of a woman sitting at the back of the circle or in the boxes.

There is also often a strong smell of cigar smoke that appears and then disappears in the Phipps Room - this was originally part of Mr and Mrs Nye Chart's house and rumour has it that it is Henry Nye Chart relaxing in his living room with a smoke.

Moses the Cat is often sighted in the laundry room (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta / The Argus) Moses the cat, laundry room

Moses the cat went missing in the 1950s and the manager at the time, Baxter Somerville, wrote about him in his weekly programme notes.

For many years after, actors were heard to comment on how lovely it was the theatre still had a cat.

Since then, people have reported seeing him slink by in between wardrobe changes.

Emily said: "There are various stories about ghost sightings and strange, spooky phenomena happening in our building.

“With Theatre Royal Brighton's incredible and storied history, it's hardly surprising.

“I've heard many ghostly tales from staff here, including sightings of Mrs Ellen Nye Chart - one of our past theatre managers - in her favourite seat, G16, or wandering the auditorium.

“I haven't seen anything yet myself, but there have definitely been times where I've been walking through the building and have felt like I'm not alone."