UK – London – Victoria Palace Theatre

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Dates: 1910 – present

Official website: http://www.victoriapalacetheatre.co.uk/
A Delfont Mackintosh Theatre

Maximum seating capacity: 1557
Stage depth: 9810mm / 32ft 2in
Height of proscenium: 8975mm / 29ft 4in
Height to under iron curtain: 6400mm / 21ft
Forestage depth: 608mm / 1ft 10in
Rake: None
Prompt corner: DSL

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Backstage History

The following photos were posted on social media in 2022. They show:
1) A note about the Dead Mans Handle (DMH) on Billy Elliot, which was a control that must be pressed by a physical operator, to show that the operator is present under stage and is watching for the safe and complete operation of the trap doors
2) A painted cue list on the fly floor, left after the run of Barnum ended in 1985. 

News

Hamilton to arrive in the West End (13 June 2016)

Past Productions / History

(Most information from the official website http://www.victoriapalacetheatre.co.uk/)

  • Hamilton (November 2017 – March 2020, reopened after Coronavirus pandemic on 19 August 2021, booking to September 2024)
  • Closed for refurbishment
  • Billy Elliot (11 May 2005 to 9 April 2016)
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Christmas 2004 for 5 weeks) Starring Lily Savage
  • Tonight’s The Night – The Rod Stewart Musical (7 November 2003 – 9 October 2004)
  • Grease (2 October 2002 – 6 September 2003)
  • Kiss Me Kate (30 August 2001 – 24 August 2002)
  • Fame (3 October 2000 – 9 September 2001)
  • The Pajama Game (October 4 1999 – 18 December 1999)
  • Soul Train (June 1999 – 28 August 1999) starring Sheila Ferguson, Danny John-Jules, Sharon Benson
  • The Rocky Horror Show (Spring 1999) 25th Anniversary Production, starring Jason Donovan
  • Annie (30 September 1998 to 28 February 1999)
  • Girls’ Night Out (March 1998 – 2 May 1998)
  • Fame (11th November 1997 – 17th January 1998)
  • Always (June 1997 – August 1997)
  • Jolson (1995 – ?) Starring Brian Conley
  • Buddy (Previews from 5 October, Opened 12 October 1989 – 1995) The show transferred to the Strand Theatre
  • Brigadoon (Previews from 21 October 1988, Opened 25 October 1988, closed 5 August 1989)
  • Winnie (Previews from 19 May 1988, closed ?9 July 1988) Musical with Robert Hardy & Virginia McKenna, featuring John Bardon, Lesley Duff, Susannah Fellows, Barry Howard, Victor Spinetti, Frank Thornton
  • High Society (Previews 15 February 1987, opens 25 February 1987, closed 16 January 1988) starring Trevor Eve, Stephen Rea, Natasha Richardson, Angela Richards
  • Charlie Girl starring Cyd Charisse, Paul Nicholas, Dora Bryan, Nicholas Parsons, Mark Wynter (Previews 11 June, Opens 19 June 1986, Closed 10 January 1987)
  • Barnum starring Michael Crawford (Previews March 2 – 13, opened March 14 1985 – April 26 1986)
  • Theatre dark 
  • Hi-De-Hi (Previews 19 December, opened 22 December 1983, closed 5 May 1984) starring the cast of the TV sitcom (Simon Cadell, Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Jeffrey Holland, Felix Bowness, Barry Howard, Ben Warriss, Su Pollard)
  • Electric Ice (August 22 1983 – December 3 1983) starring Robin Cousins
  • Call Me Madam (March 14 1983 – May 14 1983) Irving Berlin musical starring Noelle Gordon
  • Windy City (July 20 1982 – February 26 1983)
  • The Little Foxes starring Elizabeth Taylor (1982)
  • Annie (3 May 1978 – 28 November 1981: 1485 performances) UK Premiere production
  • Boom! Boom! starring Basil Brush (22 December 1977 – 28 January 1978) revue co-starring Bobby Crush and Bert Weedon
  • Cilla at the Palace (1976)
  • Swingalongamax with Max Bygraves ( –  25 October 1975) produced & directed by Lionel Blair
  • The Max Bygraves Show (15 November 1972 –  )
  • Carry On London (1973) featuring the cast of the popular Carry On film comedies
  • The Black and White Minstrel Show (4344 performances: 1962 – 4th November 1972) Based on the BBC TV series. In 1970-72, it was called ‘Magic of the Minstrels’ and was a ‘£100,000 production’.
  • The Love Match (1954)
  • The Crazy Gang (17 April 1947 – 19 May 1962: 15 years)
  • Babes in the Wood starring Lupino Lane (1942)
  • Me and My Girl (16 December 1938 – 1939 / 1944 – 1947) 1046 performances until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939
  • Young England (1934)
  • The Chelsea Follies (1930)
  • The Windmill Man (1922)
  • 1910 The theatre was demolished again and rebuilt when electricity and other early 20th century theatrical innovations arrived, and the new venue, by architect Frank Matcham, was named the Victoria Palace, and cost the huge sum of £12,000 to built. The first performances were variety bills, in keeping with the site’s history as a music hall.
  • 1886 The theatre was demolished and rebuilt to coincide with the construction of Victoria Street and Victoria Station as the railways arrived. The rebuilt Royal Standard Music Hall became ‘The most comfortable hall of entertainment in London… no expense has been spared” (quote source to follow)
  • 1863 The theatre was renamed to The Royal Standard Music Hall
  • 1832 Moy’s Music Hall was the first theatre on the site.