Palace theatre, Swansea
Encyclopedia
The Palace Theatre is a building located at the northern end of High Street, Swansea
, Wales
, recognisable for its distinctive wedge shape.
Originally built in 1888 as a traditional music hall
, the building's original name was 'The Pavilion'. During its lifetime, the building has been used as a bingo hall as well as a nightclub.
The Grade II Listed building is one of just two purpose-built music halls left standing in the whole of the UK.
In the early years of the 20th Century stars like Charlie Chaplin
, Lilly Langtry, Marie Lloyd
and Dan Leno
filled the venue.
Sir Anthony Hopkins
made his first professional stage appearance there in 1960 with Swansea Little Theatre's production of 'Have A Cigarette'.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3239364.stm
Also in the early 1960's, Morecambe and Wise
were booked. Ken Dodd
was the last stand-up comedian to appear there before it became nightclub in the 1970s.
It was also the first place in Wales to show a silent picture and remained undamaged by the blitz that destroyed much of Swansea city centre
during the Second World War
.
It is currently disused but there is a campaign group who have plans to refurbish and re-open the building as a theatrical venue, however this campaign group and their website have been inactive for over a year.
As of July 2007 the theatre is up for sale by auction, with a starting price of £250,000.
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, recognisable for its distinctive wedge shape.
Originally built in 1888 as a traditional music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
, the building's original name was 'The Pavilion'. During its lifetime, the building has been used as a bingo hall as well as a nightclub.
The Grade II Listed building is one of just two purpose-built music halls left standing in the whole of the UK.
In the early years of the 20th Century stars like Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
, Lilly Langtry, Marie Lloyd
Marie Lloyd
Matilda Alice Victoria Wood was an English music hall singer, best known as Marie Lloyd. Her ability to add lewdness to the most innocent of lyrics led to frequent clashes with the guardians of morality...
and Dan Leno
Dan Leno
Dan Leno , born George Wild Galvin, was an English comedian and actor, famous for appearing in music hall and dozens of comic plays, pantomimes, Victorian burlesques and musical comedies during the Victorian era...
filled the venue.
Sir Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, KBE , best known as Anthony Hopkins, is a Welsh actor of film, stage and television...
made his first professional stage appearance there in 1960 with Swansea Little Theatre's production of 'Have A Cigarette'.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3239364.stm
Also in the early 1960's, Morecambe and Wise
Morecambe and Wise
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, or Eric and Ernie, were a British comic double act, working in variety, radio, film and most successfully in television. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death in 1984...
were booked. Ken Dodd
Ken Dodd
Kenneth Arthur Dodd OBE is a British comedian and singer songwriter, famous for his frizzy hair or “fluff dom” and buck teeth or “denchers”, his favourite cleaner, the feather duster and his greeting "How tickled I am!", as well as his send-off “Lots and Lots of Happiness!”...
was the last stand-up comedian to appear there before it became nightclub in the 1970s.
It was also the first place in Wales to show a silent picture and remained undamaged by the blitz that destroyed much of Swansea city centre
Swansea city centre
Swansea city centre in Swansea, Wales, contains the main shopping, leisure and nightlife district in Swansea. The city centre covers much of the Castle ward including the area around Oxford Street, Castle Square, and the Quadrant Shopping Centre; Alexandra Road, High Street, Wind Street and the...
during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
It is currently disused but there is a campaign group who have plans to refurbish and re-open the building as a theatrical venue, however this campaign group and their website have been inactive for over a year.
As of July 2007 the theatre is up for sale by auction, with a starting price of £250,000.
External links
- Theatre in Wales: The Palace
- Pavilion Repertory Theatre (new name for "The Palace")