Redditch Palace Theatre 

In April 2005 the Palace Theatre closed it's doors for the first time since the second world war & closed for around six months for the work to be completed. 

The Palace Theatre was sorely missed by the people of Redditch but on Saturday April 21st 2006 The Palace Theatre re-opened it's doors & still continue's to attract first class entertainment across the UK.  

The plan was to restore the Palace Theatre back to it's original 1913 splendor with all the 1970's additions of the building being demolished making way for a new foyer with much improved visitor facilities .

With the main auditorium being restored to it's original splendor with some of the internal and external features also being restored such as the light fixtures & the internal directions of the main auditorium  

The restoration saw the reinstatement of the fibrous plaster works and motifs  including the colour scheme  the chandelier and the stain glass rose bowl in the main auditorium as well as creating the original entrances to the Upper & lower part of the auditorium. Other historic details include Oak paneling at the back of the Upper circle & lower parts of the stalls.   

This was designed to help recreate & retain the atmosphere of the audiences on both the back rows as well as the replacement of the seats in the centre of the circle where before as part of the 1970's build a central audience isle was installed making it easier for the audience to get their seats. 

The Main colour scheme in the auditorium is cream, hold and burgundy, the seating has been refurbished and recovered in velour with the seat numbers embroidered in gold. 

Luxurious new curtaining festoons as well as the boxes and new front of house tabs with swags now finish off the effect.  The Main Auditorium seating capacity was increased from 3995 to 425.

Alcester Street

The restoration also included a new three storey design as per Bertie Crewes original design to replace the 1970's edition & facilities on the front of the building. The Palace Theatre frontage now includes a cotemporary foyer, bar, lounge & on the top floor a multipurpose space now called the "Room Upstairs which can cater for smaller scale performances used by the Palace Youth Theatre . private hire and community use can place.

The Palace Theatre has been carefully planned & redesigned to link with the levels of the auditorium & all areas of FOH to provide simpler, more direct access and to exhibit the richness of Bertie Crewe’s interior to its best advantage.

The Frontage was also restored to original splendour to match the Bertie Crewe original design with all outfacing windows being replaced with floral stained glass and floodlighting being reinstated using four large luna arc lamps.

The restoration also included a new three storey design as per Bertie Crewes original design to replace the 1970's edition & facilities on the front of the building. The Palace Theatre frontage now includes a cotemporary foyer, bar, lounge & on the top floor a multipurpose space now called the "Room Upstairs which can cater for smaller scale performances used by the Palace Youth Theatre . private hire and community use can place.

Source:Arts in Reditch Website

Copyright © all images of the Palace Theatre Building are provided under © Redditch Borough Council 2020 All Rights Reserved. 

                                                      Website created by Christopher Butson