The Royal Hippodrome Theatre Eastbourne 02/08/08

Duration: 22.00-05.00

Members: 13

Weather: warm & muggy

SPRG had been waiting a long time to get a theatre under our belts so we were thrilled to finally be given the opportunity to investigate such a place. After navigating the streets and finding a parking space there was a brief chance to get some fish and chips (what else?) before heading inside to this wonderful building. Dave from the Eastbourne paranormal group was on hand throughout the night and gave us a great tour of the theatre and pointing out some things to look out for on the investigation. The likes of Bruce Forsythe, and Charlie Chaplin to name a few are just some of the great acts that have graced the walls of the Hippodrome. Things were being picked up on the general walk round before we had even started setting up, between Angie, Liz and Clint D. Base camp for the night was set up in the theatre bar, of which its walls were adorned with signed paraphernalia of acts gone by which sparked interesting conversations amongst the group.

Clint S and Garry conducted base line tests, evp's etc..... Clint D and Craig began to setup the equipment. One camera was setup facing the stage, the other on the first balcony facing up into the circle, the third on the ground floor stalls facing the back of the theatre and the fourth aimed along a row of seats in the middle of the stalls. April, Tina and Emma went on a walk and found the rehearsal room which was located in the grand circle right up the top of the theatre toward the back. In here is a door that leads to a derelict room of which once lead to a flat where the theatre managers used to live. One in particular about two hundred years ago, cut himself on a bread knife and then died from septicaemia. It is said he still walks the corridors of the theatre, especially in this particular area. April, Emma and Tina left the room pretty sharp after hearing a loud bang and then watching the door to the flat rattle in front of them quiet violently, this same phenomena was the experienced by Ben, Clint D when April took then into the room to explain what she had experienced earlier.

More members of the group then commented on how they felt as if someone was following them at some pace in the corridor outside the rehearsal room. A lot happening so time to get down to business, the group gathered for the opening prayer then it was time. Craig and Garry took monitor duty first. Emma, Ben and Clint D went to the fly tower area located backstage, where earlier on April had noticed the winches and ropes moving quite freely up there! Angie, April, Tina and Clint D took the dress circle area. The basement and stage area was covered by Liz, Adel, Lorraine and Ed. The guys on the monitors radioed through to say how they were getting nothing but a "snowstorm" of orbs on the monitors. However a big place such as this would gather a lot of dust, so who knows. The group in the circle were aware that more than one person seemed to be seated up there with him, noises and shadows were also noted and when a few members decided to go for walk around the circle and toward the corridor, it seemed to take on an uneasy feel as if a presence was obstructing them form passing in the corridor. The group in the fly tower didn't seem to get much up there, so they moved on through the adjacent corridors where a number of activities had been reported by previous groups and visitors, not a lot here though again unfortunately. The group covering the basement and stage area seemed to have a bit more luck, they experienced some sort of projectile being hurled across the stage at quite a rate which startled one or two members.

After refreshments it was time to prep for the séance which surprisingly was very quiet indeed, only Clint D, Clint S, Liz and Garry sat in, while others took extended breaks or conducted their own vigils. Ed went for a toilet break and noticed one seat about half way into the lower stalls that was just down by itself. Odd. The building at this time seemed to have taken on a very quiet feel. Certain areas though still felt very uneasy, such as the upper circle and corridor around the rehearsal room. As time was pressing on Clint D, Ben, Clint S and Adel gathered backstage under the fly tower. This was were it all seemed to happen. Everyone seemed to experience being touched or tugged in some way, Ben and Clint S were repeatedly tugged on their shirts and a female presence was picked up by Clint D, just as the group was getting used to this odd goings on, the table of props right next to us then shook with a thud as if something had fallen from the ceiling, still to this day the group can not explain what the loud crashing noise was, it seemed that we were welcomed at first and then it was as if we were being chased away. It was time to to cool off and grab some form of rest before packing up and heading off. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the theatre and are looking to return at some stage in the future, thank you to Dave for being a great host and for having us.

Finally thank you to the astrals beings who came by to say hello and who still walk the halls of this lovely building. Until next time.

SPRG 2008