Editing Cliffs Pavilion (section)

===Early history===
Plans for a theatre, the Shorefield Pavilion,<ref name=star>{{cite news|url=https://pin.it/76sPPhtl9|title=The new pavilion is taking shape|newspaper=Southend Star|date=11 February 1964|page=84}}</ref> on the site started in 1935 when the borough council purchased the location to build a 500-seat theatre and concert venue, with work starting four years later on construction but was suspended by the outbreak of [[World War II]].<ref name=echodec23>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24009493.southend-cliffs-pavilion-history-much-loved-theatre-venue/|title=Southend Cliffs Pavilion: a history of the much-loved theatre venue|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=25 December 2023}}</ref><ref name=yearsley>{{cite book|title=Southend in 50 Buildings|author=Ian Yearsley|date=2016|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=9781445651897}}</ref> After the war, the site was known as Southend's white elephant, with the site laying empty due to budget constraints, until 1963, when work was started on a building that could host shows, concerts and private functions.<ref name=star/> The building was designed by the borough architect Patrick Burridge, who also designed [[Southend Civic Centre]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=The war with sludge and a seawall|journal=The Municipal Journal, Public Works Engineer and Contractors' Guide|volume=68|issue=3515–3528|date=1960|pages=2463–2466|publisher=Municipal Journal}}</ref><ref name=Essex>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/essex0000bett/page/715/mode/1up?q=%22cliffs+pavilion%22|title=Essex|author=James Bettley, Nikolaus Pevsner|date=2007|page=715|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-11614-4 }}</ref> The 1,100 capacity theatre was opened by the actor, writer and director [[Bernard Miles|Sir Bernard Miles]] in July 1964, with the first show opening the next day starring [[Norman Vaughan (comedian)|Norman Vaughan]] and his troupe of dancers, the Swinging Lovelies.<ref name=echodec23/><ref name=yearsley/> The hexagonal sunken forecourt that was at the front of the theatre (prior to the 2024/25 refurbishment) followed the line of the pre-war foundations.<ref name=yearsley/> The theatre won a commendation at the ''Come to Britain'' awards held by the [[VisitBritain|British Travel & Holiday Association]] 
in the same year.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_great-britain-board-of-trade-board-of-trade-journal_1964-10-30_187_3528/page/942/mode/1up?q=%22cliffs+pavilion%22|title=BHTA Come to Britain award to Ulster Avenue|journal=Board of Trade Journal|volume=187|issue=3528|date=30 October 1964|publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office|page=942}}</ref> The Cliffs was the venue for the annual ''Southend-on-Sea Festival of Music and the Arts''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5IcYAAAAIAAJ&q=%22cliffs+pavilion%22|title=The Music Guide to Great Britain. England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland|author=Elaine Brody, Claire Brook|date=1975|isbn=9780396069553|publisher=Dodd, Mead|page=143}}</ref> In April 1974, extra seating that had been purchased for the summer season and stored in the underground car park under tarpaulin, caught fire, however the building was not damaged.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pin.it/8qkrWHKhZ|title=Show Goes on After Blaze Scare|website=Pinterest|date=26 April 1974}}</ref>
[[File:Statue at Cliffs Pavilion Southend.jpg|thumb|260px|Statue and forecourt at the Cliffs Pavilion]]