Guest book reveals theatre's opening stars

The guest book has been donated to the Mayflower Theatre's archive

A hotel visitors' book has revealed details of a landmark moment in Southampton's theatre history, almost a century ago.

The fragile lined notebook is signed by performers who appeared in the very first production at Southampton's Empire Theatre - now known as the Mayflower Theatre - in 1928.

It was donated to the Mayflower's archive by the family who used to run the guest house in the Shirley area of the city.

Volunteers are currently digitising the Mayflower's extensive archive of programmes, posters, tickets and other items so they can be accessed online.

The Empire Theatre opened in Southampton in 1928

The book includes the comments of Cynthia Carlton and Rita Tate, who thanked guest house proprietor, Mrs Stevens, "for her kindness during our fortnight's stay - a home away from home."

Mayflower archivist Holly Scott said: "This book is something we've never had in the archive before.

"It helps us piece together the story of the performers - when they were here rehearsing and on the stage and where they stayed. It brings it all to life."

Ms Scott also researched the family who ran the guest house, discovering they were were circus performers.

"There are definitely those moments where you feel excited because of the [theatre's] history.  When I first started this job I didn't realise how exciting it would be."

Holly Scott is overseeing the digitisation of the theatre's archive

The performers were part of the large company of Winona - a lavish operetta billed on posters as a "new romantic spectacular musical play".

It was the latest show by Rudolf Friml who had written the hugely popular Rose Marie and The Vagabond King.

Although the show was a commercial success over its two week run in Southampton, mixed reviews meant a plan to transfer the production to London's West End was abandoned.

The Mayflower Theatre

• The new Empire Theatre was opened by Moss Empires in 1928. Over subsequent decades it played host to the biggest stars of the day, including singer Gracie Fields and prima ballerina Anna Pavlova. In 1945 future film star Julie Andrews, then aged 10, gave her first public performance on the Empire stage as part of her parents' music hall act.

• In 1950 the theatre was taken over by the Rank Organisation and renamed the Gaumont.  Acts including Buddy Holly, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie performed there.

• In the 1980s the theatre owners wanted to turn it into a bingo hall.  Following local protests and a public inquiry, the building was bought by Southampton City Council, supported by a fundraising campaign.

• In 1987 the venue reopened as the 2271-seat Mayflower Theatre with a production of Peter Pan starring Bonnie Langford.

• It now hosts a mix of musicals, ballets, operas, bands, comedy gigs and a popular annual pantomime, attracting over 500,000 visitors a year and boosting the local economy by £59.7m, according to the UK Theatre Association.