Our workshop space is named after “The Nightingale of South Bank”, Florence Easton (1882-1955). The Florence Easton Room is a flexible workshop space and meeting room at the Redcar Palace that is available for hire by groups who are looking for a space from which to work.
It can be rented on a half-day or a full day basis with prices starting at £83 plus VAT. If you are interested, please email joe@teesvalleyarts.org.uk for more details.
About Florence Easton
Popularly known as the Nightingale of South Bank, Florence Easton was one of the leading operatic sopranos of her day, who was renowned for her versatility as a performer from dramatic roles by composers such as Wagner to the premiere of the jazz opera Johnny Spielt Auf in 1929 at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Born in South Bank in 1882 a local collection raised enough money to pay for her to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London and she was one of the first women to become a fellow of the Academy in 1909. She became a personal friend of the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini and perhaps she will be best remembered as the singer who created the role of Lauretta in his opera Gianni Schicchi. The aria O mio babbino caro is now one of the most popular tunes in all opera and was sung first by Flossie from South Bank.
Tees Valley Arts is building a cultural archive for our region, highlighting the contributions that individuals have made to the richness of life here. Each room that we operate in The Redcar Palace is named in recognition of an individual from the South Tees Region who has lived and worked creatively.