Pavilion Theatre

The original pavilion was built in response to Weymouth's increasing popularity as a seaside resort. Following calls for an entertainment venue, a site at the southern end of the Esplanade was chosen, and an architectural competition was launched in 1907 for the design of the theatre. It was built in 1908 of timber, with a steel frame, for a cost of £14,150, which included the reclamation of land on the esplanade. It was officially opened on 21 December 1908. In 1914, the council began leasing the theatre to Ernest Wheeler, who continued to run it for twenty-five years. It later saw competition with the opening of the Alexandra Gardens Theatre in 1924. In response, the pavilion also began…