An exhibition of photographs from Fairfield Halls’ rich theatre history was visited by actress and comedienne Su Pollard on Monday.

The exhibition features 60 shots of actors and actresses, including Ms Pollard, on stage and in their dressing rooms, offering a peek behind the scenes of the theatre decades ago.

It celebrates both the 50th anniversary of Fairfield and the illustrious career of Croydon photographer Frazer Ashford.

Mr Ashford who remembers attending the opening of Fairfield Halls aged 11 was commissioned to take the snaps for newspapers and magazines between 1972 and 1984, but rediscovered his work when hunting through his loft.

He said: "I had a eureka moment when I found about 130,000 negatives in some suitcases, which turned out to be a real goldmine of images."

The 61-year-old, whose rock music photos were exhibited at Fairfield earlier this year, said the discovery inspired him to return to theatre photography.

He is currently documenting a year in the life of Fairfield, and will have another exhibition there next autumn.

Speaking of his latest display, he said: "At the time, you don’t know what a picture is going to mean 30 or 40 years later, but some of them are quite poignant."

One of the pictures features Dad’s Army actor Arthur Lowe, thought to be the last photograph ever taken of him as he died one week later.

Striking black and white images of David Jason and early images of Hollywood actress Dame Anna Neagle are also included in the collection.

Faces of Fairfield: The Theatre Years is on display in the theatre’s Sun Lounge daily until Saturday, November 10.