Happy Birthday Mayflower Theatre

The largest Theatre in the south, Southampton's Mayflower Theatre is 25 years old today - Friday 24 February.

The Theatre opened in 1928 as the Southampton Empire, changed its name to the Gaumont in 1950, and became The Mayflower in 1987.

The Mayflower Theatre is a registered charity which receives no funding from external bodies. The Theatre relies entirely on what it earns through ticket sales activities. It is the aim of the Mayflower Theatre Trust to preserve and maintain a thriving theatre for the local community and support drama, dance and opera in Hampshire by the provision of quality products.

Dennis Hall, Chief Executive said, "Having been in charge of this wonderful theatre since its inception in 1986 my priority has always been to provide the very best of the industry's touring productions to the people of the South staging world class Musicals, Plays, Ballet, Opera, and Drama. This has without doubt made The Mayflower a number one venue on the touring circuit and a theatre the people of the south can be proud of. Here's to the next 25 years."

The newly named Mayflower Theatre opened with a production of Peter Pan on Tuesday 24 February 1987 starring Bonnie Langford.