Golden Girls of Eastbourne: Former Showgirls Recall Wild Careers in Photos
David Pickens, a former circus artist turned photographer, has captured the essence of the 'Golden Girls of Eastbourne,' a collective of five ex-variety entertainers aged in their 80s and 90s, at the Royal Hippodrome theatre in Eastbourne, East Sussex. The ladies—Jenny Lawrenson, Beryl Plummer, Vicki Goodwin, Jacquie Toye, and Jan Lynton—first crossed paths over 50 years ago while performing as dancers, singers, and comedy stooges during the 1960s and 70s. Their extensive careers included performances on cruise ships, pantomimes, and British seaside venues, sharing stages with icons like the Beatles and Cliff Richard. The project showcases their friendship and strength in a male-dominated field, featuring anecdotes of wardrobe malfunctions and flammable feather headdresses. The Guardian published the project as an interactive feature.
Key facts
- Photographer David Pickens documented the 'Golden Girls of Eastbourne' at the Royal Hippodrome theatre.
- The group consists of five former variety performers: Jenny Lawrenson, Beryl Plummer, Vicki Goodwin, Jacquie Toye, and Jan Lynton.
- The women met over 50 years ago while working in the 1960s and 70s as dancers, singers, and comedy stooges.
- Beryl Plummer and her husband Tommy once topped a bill ahead of the Beatles.
- Jacquie Toye played Velma Kelly in the UK's first production of Chicago.
- Vicki Goodwin appeared in Dad's Army and performed with her second husband Ken Goodwin.
- Jan Lynton performed in clubs in Cairo and Japan.
- The photographs were taken at the Royal Hippodrome, a Victorian theatre in Eastbourne.
- The project was published by The Guardian as an interactive feature.
Entities
Artists
- David Pickens
- Jenny Lawrenson
- Beryl Plummer
- Vicki Goodwin
- Jacquie Toye
- Jan Lynton
- Tommy Plummer
- Ken Goodwin
- Ken Dodd
- Bruce Forsyth
- Des O'Connor
- Cliff Richard
- Morecambe and Wise
- Keith Harris
- Robert Marlowe
- Gladys Morgan
Institutions
- The Guardian
- Royal Hippodrome
- Birmingham Hippodrome
- Alexandra Theatre
- Cliffs Pavilion
- London Palladium
- Cambridge Theatre
- Butlin's
Locations
- Eastbourne
- East Sussex
- United Kingdom
- Cairo
- Egypt
- Japan
- Glasgow
- London
- Cardiff
- Bournemouth
- Spain
- Llandudno
- Birmingham
- Southend-on-Sea