An extraordinarily intact 1900 Frank Matcham theatre on the Douglas promenade, part of the Villa-Gaiety complex. Matcham was the most prolific Victorian theatre architect in Britain, and the Gaiety is one of his finest surviving works — a riot of gilded plasterwork, wrought iron, and maroon velvet in an intimate horseshoe auditorium. It was almost demolished in the 1970s and was saved by a sustained local campaign.
The theatre hosts regular productions, from touring shows to local drama. Guided tours of the building run on certain days during the season and are well worth taking — the backstage areas and original machinery are intact. Check the programme on the Villa-Gaiety website before visiting.