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)
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 (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)
On Your Toes (June 1984 – ?November 1985)
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 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
Oklahoma! (opened September 17 1980 – September 19 1981) Cameron Mackintosh production, transferred from Leicester Haymarket. Starring John Diedrich, Rosamund Shelley, Alfred Molina
Jesus Christ Superstar (Previews from July 29 1972, Opened August 9 1972, Closed 23 August 1980 after 3358 performances)
Danny at the Palace (1970 – 1972) featuring Danny La Rue & Roy Hudd
Phil The Fluter (13 November 1969 – ) starring Stanley Baxter, Evelyn Laye, Mark Wynter
Belle Starr (30 April 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)
John Hanson – Desert Song (13 May 1967)
110 In The Shade (8 February 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)
Where’s Charley (from 20 February 1958: 404 performances)
The Entertainer (September 1957)
King’s Rhapsody (from 15 September 1949: 841 performances)
Carissima (1948) Romantic musical starring Elizabeth Theilmann, Lester Ferguson, Shirl Conway, Hugh Dempster, Hannah Watt
Song of Norway (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)
First Royal Command Variety Performance in 1912
1910 – London debut of the ballerina 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
Ivanhoe by Arthur Sullivan was the opening production in Richard D’Oyly Carte’s “Royal English Opera House” (31 January 1891, for 155 performances)

Staff

Chief Engineer was Eric Willett

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.