Dates: May 1891 – present
Official website: http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester/
Equipment:
- [Siemens Bordoni ? – 1948?] to be confirmed
- Light Console (108 ways) 1949 – 1978
(from The Stage Guide, 1971: Electrics: Strand Light Console SL (dimmer racks under stage). Dimmers – 108 way.)
The Light Console was removed in 1978 when the theatre was refurbished.
Gil Banks was Chief Electrician and operated the Light Console – see Interview below - Light Palette (240 dimmers) 1981 – ?
- Galaxy 3 (240 dimmers) [in British Theatre Directory 1999]
History & Past Productions
- May 1891 opened, at a cost of £40,500, and seating capacity of 3675.
- 1891 – 1910 – Music Hall appearances by such artists as Marie Lloyd, Harry Lauder, Little Tich, Lillie Langtry, Vesta Tilley and Charlie Chaplin.
- 1913 – Interior renovated under the direction of architect Bertie Crew, resulting in reduced seating capacity of 2600.
- 1913 – Harry Houdini
- 1920s – 1930s: Extravagant revues, full-length musicals and lavish pantomimes.
- 1938 – Crest of the Wave (transferred from Theatre Royal Drury Lane)
- December 1940 – Theatre suffered a direct hit during the Manchester blitz during World War II but the theatre wasn’t closed for very long, and had a panto running that Christmas.
- 1940s – Stars of radio performed at the Palace.
- 1950s / 1960s – Wide range of shows, including Hamlet, Look Back in Anger, The Dancing Years and Guys and Dolls.
- 1953 – Exterior modernised and refaced
- 1978 – Old stage supports ripped out and replaced, extending the stage. Dressing Room facilities were also extended, and the auditorium and FOH facilities were restored to their Edwardian splendour. The theatre reopened in 1981.
- Jesus Christ Superstar (1981)
- Nicholas Nickleby
- Les Miserables
- Covent Garden Opera
- Saturday Night Fever
- Luciano Pavarotti
- Victoria Wood
- Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- King Lear
