The Devonshire Park Theatre is a beautiful Grade II listed Victorian theatre in Sussex with a seating capacity of 936.  The theatre was built in 1884 and designed by Henry Currey.  Furthur improvements, including the addition of the boxes and an upper bar, were made in 1903 by a celebrated theatre architect by the name of Frank Matcham.  Devonshire Park was bought by the Council in the 30's

   It is one of the best examples in the country of a small Victorian Theatre with its ornate interior featuring decorative plaster work with scrolls and caryatids by Schmidt of Holloway. 

   In 1994 the theatre won the Martini/TMA Regional Theatre Award for the ‘Most Welcoming Theatre’.

   There was a Devonshire park orchestra which featured the Violinist who played "nearer my god to thee" on the Titanic as it sank.

   Devonshire Park Theatre was a wonderful venue to visit, and have the chance to investigate reported paranormal activity.  We were lucky to have only been the second group to be given this chance. 

   We would like to thank Devonshire Park for this great opportunity and Dave for being such a lovely host on the night.

    Investigation date 20-21/02/10

    Investigators: Jackie, Bill, Donna, Karl, Chelle, Roger, Robert & Ray    As the team arrived at the Devonshire Park Theatre, we were warmly welcomed by Dave, our host for the evening.  Who escorted us to the bar area, this was used as our base for the night.

   After all equipment was brought from our cars into the bar area, Dave took us on a health and safety walk around the Theatre, where he pointed out areas which may be of interest, together with any dangers to watch for.

Jackie’s torch wouldn’t work in the entrance hall which was strange as she had put new batteries in before leaving home.

   During the walk we were shown the backstage area, which included the dressing rooms.  Jackie, Donna and Chelle felt one of the dressing rooms named ‘Foyle’ seemed to have an oppressive atmosphere.  On leaving this room to continue the walk, Donna started feeling very dizzy. She turned to tell Chelle, to find Chelle was feeling unsteady on her feet.

  Once the tour walk was completed, we returned to the bar area to discuss where the team felt would be the best places to set up certain equipment.

    Two camcorders were set up in locked off rooms:  One placed in the ‘Foyle’ dressing room and the other in the ‘Willington’ dress Room. Another Camcorder was set up on the stage.

    An alarm beam and voice recorder was set up in the 'Gildredge' dressing room.

    Three trigger objects were placed in different locations within the auditorium.  One placed in the stalls, one in the circle and the third in the upper circle.

    Beam Breakers were set up in the ‘Winsor Davis’ box.

     A small tape recorder was left recording in another box.

    A voice recorder was left in on of the ladies toilets to try and capture unexplained noises and taps being turned on.

 

Investigation

            We started by sitting quietly in the stall area, to try and get a feel of the theatre and tune into its energies.  We then tried calling out to ask if there were any others with us (spirit).  After a while we decided to move to the circle area as none of the team felt any activity.  Unfortunately no-one within the group could sense any activity here either, so we moved again, this time to the upper circle area.

  The theatre felt quite ‘flat’ so we decided to try to stage area.  We started by joining hands in a circle to try and build the energy.  We then called out for spirit to join us.  After a while of trying we gave up as nothing seemed to be happening.

   After chatting about what we should do next.  We decided to try using the Planchette to see if we could communicate with any spirit that may have been present.  After asking a number of questions the Planchette spelt out the name ‘Max’.  Unfortunately we couldn’t get any further communication so decided to try the Ouija board to see if Max would find it any easier to use the letters around the board, assuming that Max really was a spirit trying to communicate with us.  On asking a number of questions we established that he had been an actor, was 8 years old and had enjoyed being on stage.  No more information could be found.

    We then went downstairs under the stage and tried another séance.  We stood in a circle again and tried calling spirit, asking for any proof that they were with us but no energies could be felt by any member of the team.

 

   Conclusion:- We didn’t manage to capture anything on the camcorders, but we did get the following. 

   We captured two E.P.V.’s which were not heard at the time of recording.  You have to listen very carefully.  Best to use headphones.

   The first was after Jackie asked if they minded her talking to them.  The answer sounds like ‘NO’ which was strange as we couldn’t get a lot any activity.  It is very soft so you need to listen carefully, but it is there

 

 

   The second E.V.P. sounds like ‘Turn the camera? Off now'.  We were being filmed during the evening, maybe this is what 'spirit' didn't like LOL

 

 

   We left a voice recorder in the ladies toilet, where reported strange noises are often heard together with taps being turned on of their own accord.  We didn’t manage to capture any sounds from the taps being turned on, (apart from the regular tinny sound which was a tap dripping),  but we did get this is a strange banging noise which only lasts for 25 seconds.  It was the only unexplained noise during the whole 3hour recording.  If you listen carefully, just before the banging it sounds like a few footsteps then someone saying something but we can't make out any word. 

   

 

   On examining our photo's Chelle found this one, she had taken of an 'empty' corridor.  She did think it a strange photo at the time but wanted to have a better look on her computer.  Has she captured a 'ghost/spirit'? It does look like there is a dark figure there.  It definitely wasn't any of the team.  (click on picture to enlarge)