The Beatles live: Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea – 31 May 1963
Friday 31 May 1963 | Live
Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England
On Friday 31 May 1963, The Beatles performed at the Odeon Cinema in Southend-on-Sea, Essex — the 13th date of their UK tour with Roy Orbison.
The Roy Orbison UK Tour
The Beatles were co-headlining a UK package tour alongside the legendary American singer Roy Orbison. Although Orbison had originally been billed as the headline act, The Beatles' extraordinary popularity quickly saw them close the show each night — a testament to how rapidly Beatlemania was sweeping Britain in the spring of 1963.
Throughout the tour, The Beatles performed a set of seven songs:
- 'Some Other Guy'
- 'Do You Want To Know A Secret'
- 'Love Me Do'
- 'From Me To You'
- 'Please Please Me'
- 'I Saw Her Standing There'
- 'Twist And Shout'
The setlist drew heavily from their debut album Please Please Me, released just weeks earlier in March 1963, as well as their string of hit singles that had already made them household names across the UK.
The Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea
The Odeon Cinema on Southend-on-Sea's high street was one of the many grand picture houses that doubled as live music venues during the early 1960s. The Beatles performed at the Odeon on one other occasion — 9 December 1963 — as part of their autumn tour that year.
Sadly, the venue was demolished in 2004 and replaced with a university building, leaving no physical trace of the nights The Beatles played there.
Key Facts: 31 May 1963
- Venue: Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
- Tour: UK Tour with Roy Orbison
- Tour date: Day 13
- Songs performed: Some Other Guy, Do You Want To Know A Secret, Love Me Do, From Me To You, Please Please Me, I Saw Her Standing There, Twist And Shout
- Other Beatles show at this venue: 9 December 1963
- Venue status: Demolished 2004
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the Odeon Cinema in Southend-on-Sea?
The Odeon Cinema was located in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. The venue was demolished in 2004 and replaced with a university building.
What songs did The Beatles play on the Roy Orbison tour in 1963?
The Beatles performed a seven-song set: 'Some Other Guy', 'Do You Want To Know A Secret', 'Love Me Do', 'From Me To You', 'Please Please Me', 'I Saw Her Standing There', and 'Twist And Shout'.
Did The Beatles ever play Southend-on-Sea again?
Yes. The Beatles returned to the Odeon Cinema in Southend-on-Sea on 9 December 1963 as part of their autumn UK tour.
Who else was on the Roy Orbison UK tour with The Beatles?
The tour was a package show co-headlined by Roy Orbison and The Beatles. Despite Orbison's star billing, The Beatles' popularity meant they closed the show each night.
How many dates were on The Beatles' 1963 Roy Orbison tour?
The Southend-on-Sea show on 31 May 1963 was the 13th date of the tour.
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