The Gateway Theatre welcomed more than 200 enthusiastic pirates on 23 May as part of Seaton’s first-ever Pirate Festival.
In October 2025, Seaton Chamber approached the venue with a proposal to host the festival’s grand finale at The Gateway Theatre. Tasked with finding the perfect entertainment to close what was set to be one of the standout events in Seaton’s 2026 calendar, the theatre brought acclaimed pirate folk-rock band The Captain’s Beard to the stage for a swashbuckling evening of live music unlike anything the town had seen before.
Joined by fellow performers Bonsai Pirates, The Captain’s Beard delivered a lively mix of traditional folk songs, sea shanties, upbeat original tracks and humorous numbers featuring Cockney mermaids, English monarchs and even rubbish vans. Based in Brighton, the band has built a strong following across the UK and has also performed extensively in Belgium, France, Austria and the Netherlands.
The concert formed part of a wider day-long festival programme across Seaton, which included a Pirate Parkrun, a fancy-dress parade, pirate-themed tram rides, live busking performances, family activities and a Sea Shanty Singing Workshop hosted earlier in the day at The Gateway Theatre.
The Gateway Theatre was delighted to play a key role in the town’s inaugural Pirate Festival and looks forward to welcoming another shipload of pirates in the future.
Argh!
