The 400-seat theatre, a registered charity, was the brainchild of Brighton playwright and construction manager, Adrian Bunting.

In April 2013 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and spent his final days planning for a long-held ambition to create an open air theatre in the city.

He left his life savings of £18,000 to kick-start the project and asked four of his friends to continue his dream after his death.