UK – London – Palace Theatre

Dates: 31 January 1891 – present

Seating Capacity: 1400 (on 4 levels)
Owner: Nimax Theatres (Palace Theatre website)
Originally named the Royal English Opera House.

Until the phenomenal sell-out success of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the theatre had two seats permanently bolted open so the theatre ghosts always had somewhere to sit. These seats were not usuable by the public.
There are two ghosts in residence – an unknown ballerina (who has been known to pirouette across the stage) and the famous actor Ivor Novello, who apparently watches performances from the magnificent Dress Circle.

Harry Potter make-over planning permission (The Stage, 27 May 2016)

Selected Past Productions

LD90 Dimmer Racks removed in February 2024
Wonderville (16 July 2021 – 30 August 2021)
Adam Kay – This Is Going To Hurt (21-26 June 2021)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (30 July 2016 – paused in March 2020 due to coronavirus, reopened October 2021)
The Commitments (August 2013 – November 2015)
Singin’ in the Rain (February 2012 – June 2013)
Priscilla Queen of the Desert (23 March 2009 – December 2011)
Monty Python’s Spamalot (30 September 2006 – 3 January 2009)
Whistle Down The Wind (March 2006 – August 2006)
The Woman in White (September 2004 – February 2006)
Les Miserables (4 December 1985 – April 2004)
Requiem (25 October – 2 November 1985) Sarah Brightman & Aled Jones & Variations for ‘Cello and Orchestra (25 October – 2 November 1985) Julian Lloyd Webber
On Your Toes (Previews 31 May 1984, Opened June 12 1984, Closed September 21 1985) starring Natalia Makarova/Galina Panova, Honor Blackman, John Bennett, Doreen Wells
The Palace Theatre was purchased by Really Useful Theatre Company on August 23 1983.
Refurbishment work after Song and Dance closed, under the ownership of Really Useful:
- Remove old formica-covered box office
- Install kitchen next to Stalls Bar
- Remove merchandising counter from foyer
- Return artwork by Fairfax Murray “The Concert” to it’s original position
- Reveal marble in the Dress Circle bar & base of marble around the proscenium
Song and Dance (March 26th 1982 – March 31st 1984, 795 performances) produced by Cameron Mackintosh
Her Royal Highness (21 November 1981 – 30 January 1982) by Royce Ryton & Ray Cooney. Starring Marc Sinden, Eve Lehman, Morar Kennedy, Francis Lloyd, Joyce Cummings, Rona Anderson & Gwen Mason
The Blue Angel (4 – 16 November 1981??) Berlin Ballet
Roll On 4 O Clock (3 November 1981 – ) written by Colin Welland
Oklahoma! (opened September 17 1980 – September 19 1981) Cameron Mackintosh production, transferred from Leicester Haymarket. Starring John Diedrich, Rosamund Shelley, Alfred Molina. Lighting by Richard Pilbrow.
The System CD lighting control known as ‘Betty’ was replaced after the run of Jesus Christ Superstar with a Light Palette 1 at Richard Pilbrow’s request, for Oklahoma. The dimmer room of clutch dimmers was replaced by 200 STM dimmers. The console support in the Upper Circle box was built by Howard Eaton, and Mike ‘Dobbin’ Oldham built the patch panel to connect the board to the dimmers. [Information from Alan Luxford and Kris Buddle]
During the get-out of Jesus Christ Superstar, a set of cinema speakers were found flown high in the fly tower, which were then removed.
Jesus Christ Superstar (Previews from July 29 1972, Opened August 9 1972, Closed 23 August 1980 after 3358 performances)
Maid of the Mountains (29 April 1972 – 17 June 1972) starring Jimmy Edwards
Danny at the Palace (6 April 1970 – 15 April 1972) featuring Danny La Rue & Roy Hudd
Phil The Fluter (13 November 1969 – 28 February 1970) starring Stanley Baxter, Evelyn Laye, Mark Wynter
Belle Starr (30 April – 10 May 1969) starring Betty Grable
Two Cities (March 1969 – ?) starring Edward Woodward
Mr and Mrs (? to 18 January 1969) starring John Neville, Honor Blackman and Hylda Baker
Cabaret (28 February 1968 – 30 November 1968) starring Judi Dench
The Desert Song (13 May 1967) starring John Hanson
110 In The Shade (8 February 1967 – 6 May 1967) starring Inga Swenson, Stephen Douglass, Ivor Emmanuel
The Sound of Music (Opened 18 May 1961, closed 14 January 1967: 2385 performances)
Flower Drum Song (from March 24, 1960: 464 performances)
Zambra de Madrid (1960)
Philippine Dance Co. (1960)
The Sooty Christmas Show (1959-1960)
Fine Fettle ()
Where’s Charley (from 20 February 1958: 404 performances) starring Norman Wisdom
The Entertainer (September 1957) starring Laurence Olivier
Trumpets & Drums (?)
Antonio Spanish Ballet (?)
Berliner Ensemble – Bertolt Brecht Season (?)
Ballets Africains (6 – 25 August 1956)
Cinema Programme, possibly while new lighting control system being installed. This was the first System CD (nicknamed ‘Betty’), by Strand Electric, and was located on a perch in the stage right (OP) wing. From 15 July – 6 August there is no live performance programmed. The System CD replaced a Grand Master control system. (Further research needed: Fred Bentham’s ‘Sixty Years of Light Work’ stated that the System CD was installed for a Christmas show, so may have been installed in December 1955, however only 11 days were available then.)
15 July – Queen Christina starring Greta Garbo
29 July (unsure of start date) Ninotchka starring Greta Garbo
Hungarian State Company of Dance (4 June 1956 – 14 July 1956) Company of 130. New programme from 26 June
Ballet Paris Roland Petit (8 May 1956 – 2 June 1956) 4 ballets every performance
Don Juan / Le Triomphe in rep (?16 April – ?1 May 1956) Theatre National Populaire from Paris
Ballets Africains (28 March 1956 – 14 April 1956)
Trevallion (21 – 27 March 1956) New comic opera starring Martin Lawrence, Janet Hamilton-Smith, Dennis Noble
La Finta Semplice (12 March – 17 March 1956) Mozart Opera Company & Orchestra from Salzburg
Cinderella (21 December 1955 – 3 March 1956) starring David Nixon, presented by Emile Littler
Pilar Lopez (14 November – 10 December 1955) Spanish ballet
Classical Theatre of China (24 October – 12 November 1955)
Italian Opera season – La Boheme, Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci, Madame Butterfly, Tosca, Rigoletto in rep (20 September – 22 October 1955)
Much Ado About Nothing & King Lear (21 July 1955 – 17 September 1955) 8 weeks only. Starring John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft, Claire Bloom, Moira Lister
Compagnons de la Chanson (27 June 1955 – 9 July 1955) 2 weeks only. Featuring The Little Singers of Paris.
The Merry Widow (3 May 1955 – 25 June 1955) Viennese company featuring Marta Eggerth and Jan Kiepura
Maurice Chevalier (4 April 1955 – 30 April 1955)
Antonio & His Spanish Ballet Co. (February 21 1955 – ?) Victoria Eugenia & Antonio de Ronda
Happy Holiday (?December 1954 – 15 January 1955) starring Reg Dixon
King’s Rhapsody (from 15 September 1949: 841 performances)
Carissima (1948) Romantic musical starring Elizabeth Theilmann, Lester Ferguson, Shirl Conway, Hugh Dempster, Hannah Watt
The Bird Seller (29 May 1947 – ?)
Song of Norway (1946)
1066 and All That (1945-1946)
Under Your Hat (1939 – 1940)
On Your Toes (1937)
Anything Goes (1935)
Gay Divorce (1933)
The Girl Friend (1927)
Princess Charming (1926 – 326 performances)
No, No Nanette (11 March 1925 – 665 performances)
Royal Music Hall Performance (1st July 1912) First Royal Command Variety Performance for King George V & Queen Mary
1910 – London debut of the ballerina Anna Pavlova
The planned operatic programme didn’t succeed as planned, and the building was reopened as the “Palace Theatre of Variety” on December 10th 1892 by Augustus Harris
Ivanhoe by Arthur Sullivan was the opening production in Richard D’Oyly Carte’s “Royal English Opera House” (31 January 1891, for 155 performances)

[Sources: Newspapers, Kris Buddle, John Pocock, Alan Luxford]

Staff

Chief Engineer was Eric Willett
Kris Buddle joined the theatre in 1976 as Second Electrical Dayman
TV personality, comedian and author Sandi Toksvig has her first professional job in the Electrics department during the run of Jesus Christ Superstar and was responsible for lamp rounds, followspotting and board operation. [reference; Between the Stops, Sandi Toksvig]

Equipment

The Stage Guide, 1971
Electrics; Strand CD TH 1 on SR gantry. Dimmers – 120 (1k to 2kW); no presets; groups – 14 memory pistons. Circuits – FOH 32; Flies 62; Stage dips 26. Total capacity available – 300A on 3 phases. Special effects supply – 60A on 3 phases. Follow spots – 2 sunspots.