Mayflower 90 Collection
To celebrate our 90th birthday, we have created our “Mayflower 90” collection. This collection features 90 items from our archive which span across our rich history. You can explore this collection by visiting our online archive and searching “Mayflower 90”.
Our “Mayflower 90” collection features an exciting mixture of programmes, tickets, posters, photographs, personal stories and some never before seen items!
Get Involved with Mayflower Heritage
Donating archive materials
Mayflower Theatre are dedicated to expanding our collection of archive materials and take great care in looking after all of our archives. If you have any items that relate to our theatre and would like to donate them to our archive then please call us on 02380 711810 or email us at archive@mayflower.org.uk.
In addition to the many items in our archive, we are also delighted to hold over 100 personal stories and memories that people have shared about their visits to the theatre. If you have a memory that you would like to share with us then please click here.
Schools and Community Groups
Mayflower Theatre are delighted to be able to offer workshops and talks based around our heritage which can be tailored to suit you. If you would like more information about what we can offer then contact us at engage@mayflower.org.uk.
My Story
Generously funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, during 2016/17 we ran our My Story project to document and share our theatre’s history and the personal stories of the local community. This involved creating our online archive and working with a team of young people to interview and capture the personal stories that bring our theatre’s rich history to life. The stories were then collated by our young people and our My Story film was created.
Some stories from the project
Ms Dorothy Heard, now living in Australia, contacted us and we have received diary entries from her late husband Dennis Heard who started working at the Empire in 1942 aged 14 years old. Dorothy was an usherette at the Empire where they met and were married for 65 years. The diary entries include accounts of ‘secret’ war time D Day briefings for troops and blackouts. Dorothy has kindly sent copies of two photos of her husband, herself and colleagues on the roof which was "set out as the bridge of a ship with a wheel house complete with steering wheel and around the railings life buoys from all the pre-war liners"."I am Chloe and I am 9 years old. And when I was a bit younger I came here to watch Peppa Pig, and it was really good. It made me want to come to Mayflower Theatre again and again and again." - Chloe