The newest of Torquay’s major theatrical venues is the Princess Theatre, which opened its doors on June 7, 1961. The opening night featured comedy legends Tommy Cooper and Morecambe & Wise topping the bill. The theatre was built by Torbay Council as the centrepiece of the redevelopment of Princess Gardens on Torquay’s seafront, replacing a marquee that had been erected annually to host light entertainment.
Just two years after opening, the Princess Theatre welcomed The Beatles on August 18, 1963, for what would be their only performance in Torquay. The Fab Four performed two shows that evening, at 6pm and 8:30pm, causing considerable excitement in the town with their newly released single “She Loves You.”
As a touring house rather than a producing venue, the Princess Theatre has always hosted a wide variety of productions. Like many seaside resort theatres, it was traditionally known for its annual Summer Season consisting of light entertainment and family variety shows. The theatre has presented summer shows from numerous comedians, including Joe Pasquale, Bradley Walsh, Ken Dodd, Danny La Rue, and Jimmy Tarbuck.
A significant change in programming occurred in 2002 when the traditional summer lineup was replaced with a six-week run of two West End musicals: “Grease” and “Chicago.” This trend continued the following year with productions of “The Blues Brothers,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat,” and “Boogie Nights,” with musicals proving increasingly popular with audiences.
Over the decades, the Princess Theatre has hosted an impressive array of performers. Stage and screen icons, including Sir Roger Moore, Elaine Paige, Joan Collins, and Joan Rivers, have graced its stage. Comedians Jimmy Carr, Alan Carr, and Dawn French have performed there, while musical acts such as Mumford & Sons, Jamie Cullum, and Ronan Keating have included the theatre on their UK tours.