Mayflower has a rich and fascinating history, dating back to its opening in 1928. Originally known as The Empire Theatre, it was renamed The Gaumont in 1950 before being acquired by Southampton City Council and reopening as Mayflower Theatre in 1987. In 2020, Mayflower Theatre took over the operation of Studio 144 North, which was relaunched as MAST Mayflower Studios the following year.
Preserving our history
Our archive is an invaluable resource, filled with theatrical treasures that tell the story of our venue’s past. Heritage volunteers work alongside our Adult & Family Learning Coordinator, Holly Scott, to maintain and expand this collection.
I coordinate our heritage programme and theatre archive, which houses thousands of items documenting our rich history,” says Holly. “The archive is based at Mayflower Theatre and offers excellent facilities for preservation. Our aim is to safeguard our history while educating others about our theatrical heritage. We hold weekly archiving sessions with a dedicated group of volunteers who organise programmes, posters, and photographs. Currently, we are digitising historic programmes, which we plan to upload to our online archive later this year.
Holly Scott, Adult & Family Learning Coordinator, Mayflower
Beatlemania arrives in Southampton
Some of the most unforgettable moments in our theatre’s history took place during the iconic Rock and Roll era. The Gaumont welcomed legendary international acts to its stage, including The Beatles.
On Monday 20 May 1963, John, Paul, George, and Ringo performed at our venue for the very first time. The excitement in the audience was so intense that their music was often drowned out by the screams of devoted fans. The band returned twice more—on 13 December 1963 and 6 November 1964—cementing their place in our theatre’s history.
Our heritage is something we take great pride in, and through our archive, we continue to celebrate the incredible performances, people, and stories that have shaped Mayflower over the decades.
Would you like to explore more of our history? Stay tuned for updates on our digital archive project coming later this year!
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