Firefighters were seen “pulling the roof off” a building near the theatre to get to the blaze, according to reports.
Melanie Bonner, who works at a nearby pharmacy, told the Southend Echo: “The police were keeping people away. There were loads of people crowding round to take pictures. It was pure black smoke, high too.
“It kicked off around half 3pm and firefighters arrived within about half hour.
“You could just smell the smoke. Firefighters were pulling the roof off the get to the fire.”
Her co-worker Freya Miller added: “There was just a lot of smoke and it was all hazy outside. It absolutely stunk, just a bad burning smell.
“We had some customers in but they all left to see what was going on.”
