Princess Theatre

Opened as the Capitol Cinema on 22nd June 1932 with "The Desert Song". The cinema was built with the locally quarried Norfolk carstone and has the largest gable wall of carstone in existence. It was designed to be both a cinema and theatre and was equipped with a 30feet wide proscenium arch, a 17feet deep stage and 5 dressing rooms.

Initially an independent cinema, it was taken over by the Mayfair Circuit by 1944 and then by Eastern Counties Cinemas. It closed in the late 1960’s and stood un-used until it was sold in 1974 and re-opened as The Kingsley Centre with a mixed programme of films and live shows. This didn’t last long and it went over to use as a bingo hall.

The bingo operation eventually closed and it lay empty and derelict for several years until the local Council purchased it in 1981.

It was refurbished and re-named the Princess Theatre (after the Princess of Wales-Lady Diana Spencer; who later actually visited the theatre with her two sons in December 1988 to see the pantomime "Cinderella"). The Princess Theatre re-opened on 5th July 1981 with a live show and it now hosts again a mix of live performances and cinema use.

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater