Landmark Theatre

The Landmark Theatre stands in Ilfracombe, a town on the north coast of Devon. Its unusual shape comes from two cones joined together. The building replaced an older theatre called The Pavilion, which was partly burned down in the 1980s and later taken down. After the fire, the new theatre was designed to bring life back to the seafront. It sits close to the harbour where fishing boats still land their catch. The double-cone design makes the building easy to recognise from a distance. The theatre matters because it keeps live shows alive in a small seaside town. For a while the building had no permanent manager after the original trust went out of business. A temporary company ran it until a new long-term contract was signed. Selladoor Worldwide now books shows for the next ten years. Local people fought to keep the theatre open when money ran short. Inside, the auditorium seats around five hundred people for plays, musicals and concerts. The stage is wide enough for full productions with scenery and lighting. Outside, the curved walls echo the shape of the cones. From the pavement outside, visitors can see the harbour and the sea beyond. The building’s design makes it a landmark for anyone walking along the front.