The True Story of the Burglars of Archer Lodge
An exhilarating performance about the daring people who were not invited to ExploreTheArch’s venue
ExploreTheArch is a unique theatre collective exploring domestic life. It is situated opposite Markwick Gardens at Archer Lodge, Charles Road, St Leonards-on-Sea.
The venue is a remarkable building constructed in the 1890s and open to the public three times a year for intimate experiential theatre productions. This summer’s show is a promenade production which tells the house’s own story of the burglars of Archer Lodge. This social history of the building is absolutely true.
Director Gail Borrow explains, “Those who weren’t invited to Archer Lodge include some of the greatest storytellers of the twentieth century. These mysterious people have been notorious locals in their time. Some gained international recognition.” Performer Kieran O’Connor adds, “Their stories highlight curious choices which show that crime is complex and almost impossible to predict.”
The show begins on the ground floor and continues up the stairs to the rooms on the first floor, supporting the audience to piece together the lives of those who have lived and worked in the building, as well as the tales of its visitors. There are the two Alices and their son and husband respectively, Charles Archer Pigott, who was the architect of the building and a town councillor who broke the mould by wearing a red waistcoat and cracking jokes in the chambers to lighten the mood.
Performer Yasmin Aishah says, “Cook, Esther Smith, is among the longest residents of Archer Lodge – together with sisters Jessie and Laura Rogers whose life mishaps all make the local papers.”
The house has been predominantly owned by women, including Isabella Baron in the 1930s and Edith Montlaird in the 1940s/1950s, but this is not the attraction for the three burglars of Archer Lodge. To explore the stories of the ‘Teetotal Burglar’ of 1906, the coastguard messenger on the bicycle – apparently also a steward on a boat and a crew member of HMS Victory – until his story is unravelled by the women of St Leonards-on-Sea, not to mention the Meat Skewer Burglar of 1938 … Visit ExploreTheArch’s website for more information and tickets: explorethearch.co.uk/burglars
The collective regrets that, although the ground floor and WCs are level access from the road, there is no lift to the first floor at the venue. Access queries should be emailed to [email protected]
The True Story of the Burglars of Archer Lodge runs Saturday 17 – Friday 23 August. Doors open 7pm with bar. The show begins at 7.30pm. Running time approx. 70 mins. Tickets: £15 + booking fee. Under 19s free with accompanying adults. Free children’s tickets must be booked.
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