Editing Torquay (section)

==Culture==

===Arts===
[[File:Banksy Torquay robot crop.jpg|right|thumb|Painting on the wall of the Grosvenor Hotel, said to be the work of [[Banksy]].]]
In the early years of British cinema, Torquay was home to two production companies, Cairns Torquay Films<ref>{{cite web |title=Cairns Torquay Films |website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/company/co0014269/ |access-date=7 July 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306132256/http://www.imdb.com/company/co0014269/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Torquay And Paignton Photoplay Productions,<ref>{{cite web |title=Torquay & Paignton Photoplay Productions |website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/company/co0035914/ |access-date=7 July 2019 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307100943/http://www.imdb.com/company/co0035914/ |url-status=live }}</ref> who in 1920, produced a total of three films between them. 

Recently,{{when|date=December 2024}} Devon Films, based in Torquay, has established itself as the Bay's latest film production company.<ref>{{cite web
 |title        = TV Star Lined up for Bay Comedy
 |publisher    = thisissouthdevon.co.uk
 |url          = http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=135239&command=displayContent&sourceNode=135077&contentPK=20194657&folderPk=79060&pNodeId=134831
 |access-date   = 3 April 2008
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20040829232444/http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=135239
 |archive-date = 29 August 2004
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref>

The [[Princess Theatre (Torquay)|Princess Theatre]], which is by the side of the harbour, is owned by Torbay Council and operated by ATG (Ambassador Theatre Group). With about 1,500 seats, it is Torquay's largest theatre and plays host to touring independent production companies. The Princess Theatre also holds weddings and other functions such as parties and large seminars.<ref>{{cite web |title=Princess Theatre : Official Website |publisher=livenationtheatres.co.uk |url=http://www.princesstheatre.org.uk/content_venue.asp?CategoryID=8756&VenueID=107 |access-date=3 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801172211/http://www.princesstheatre.org.uk/content_venue.asp?CategoryID=8756 |archive-date=1 August 2009}}</ref> TOADS Theatre Company operates the Little Theatre in [[Meadfoot]] in the converted St Mark's Church, hosting both the company's own productions and those of visiting societies.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Little Theatre in Torquay, Devon
|publisher=toadstheatre.co.uk
|url=http://www.toadstheatre.co.uk/
|access-date=3 April 2008
|archive-date=6 May 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506191905/http://www.toadstheatre.co.uk/
|url-status=live
}}</ref> [[Babbacombe Theatre]] is located on Babbacombe Downs and describes itself as having the longest-running summer season in the country, which lasts nine months.<ref>{{cite web
 |title       = Babbacombe Theatre – Let us entertain you ....
 |publisher   = babbacombe-theatre.com
 |url         = http://www.babbacombe-theatre.com/theatre/
 |access-date  = 3 April 2008
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070804231500/http://www.babbacombe-theatre.com/theatre/
 |archive-date = 4 August 2007
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

Torbay Council, along with other local bodies, administers Creative Torbay, a website for local cultural organizations, creatives and artists to promote their work.<ref>[http://creativetorbay.com/ Creative Torbay ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120121335/http://www.creativetorbay.com/ |date=20 November 2008 }} Retrieved 30 October 2013.</ref>

===Media===
Torquay' local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Devon]], [[Heart West]], and [[Greatest Hits Radio South West]] (formerly known as Palm 105.5 and The Breeze), which has its studios in Lymington Road in Torquay.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2015/09/palm-105-5-torbay-to-rebrand-as-the-breeze/|title=Palm 105.5 Torbay to rebrand as The Breeze|publisher=Radio Today|date=1 September 2015|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415115332/https://radiotoday.co.uk/2015/09/palm-105-5-torbay-to-rebrand-as-the-breeze/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Local TV coverage is provided by [[BBC South West]] and [[ITV West Country]]. Television signals are received from the [[Beacon Hill transmitting station|Beacon Hill]] and the local relay TV transmitters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Beacon_Hill|title=Full Freeview on the Beacon Hill (Torbay, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=29 October 2023}}<br>- {{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Torquay_Town|title=Freeview Light on the Torquay Town (Torbay, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=29 October 2023}}</ref>

The town's local newspaper is the ''[[Torquay Herald Express|Herald Express]]'', which has been published since 1925, after a merger of two papers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/subject/torquay-herald-express/|title=Torquay Herald Express|publisher=Press Gazette|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415115610/https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/subject/torquay-herald-express/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Past newspapers include the ''Torquay and Tor General Advertisor and Director'', founded in 1839, which in 1853 became ''The Torquay Directory and South Devon Journal'' until 1949, finally becoming ''The South Devon Journal'', which closed in 1973.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 May 2005 |title=Devon newspaper bibliography: Torquay |publisher=Devon Library and Information Services, Devon County council |url=http://www.devon.gov.uk/localstudies/110708/1.html |access-date=4 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204082527/http://www.devon.gov.uk/localstudies/110708/1.html |archive-date=4 December 2008}}</ref>

===Sport===
Torquay has a long history of holding sailing events and regattas due to the favourable easterly facing nature of the bay and its popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. This tradition reached its height in 1948 when the [[Water sport (recreation)|water sport]] events of the [[1948 Summer Olympics]] were held in Torquay, with the [[Olympic flame]] being transferred from London to Torre Abbey Gardens to reside throughout the event.<ref name="Russell, 199"/>

Torquay is represented in [[association football]] in the National League South by [[Torquay United F.C.]] The team plays their home matches at [[Plainmoor]] and made it on occasion to the third tier of the English football leagues, now known as League One. Torquay United were promoted from the Conference Premier after winning the play-off final at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]] in June 2009. However, after a poor [[Football League Two]] campaign in the 13/14 season, Torquay United came last and were relegated back to the Conference Premier (now the National League). Torquay were relegated previously in 2007 from the [[Football League]] after 80 years of membership and spent two years playing in the Conference Premier; this downfall came just three years after promotion from the [[Football League Third Division|league's basement division]] and ultimately led to a change in ownership of the club to a consortium of local businessmen and fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27190925|title=Torquay United: Lottery winners to League Two relegation|website=BBC Sport|date=29 April 2014|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415120144/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27190925|url-status=live}}</ref>