Palace Theatre, Redditch.
Still serving the community.
Carrying on from yesterday’s photograph, today’s is taken at the other end of Alcester Street. This little gem remarkably survives despite being surrounded by modern developments. Dating back to 1913, it is a more recent tradition theatre. Described as a “miniature Opera House of classic design”, it originally seated 660, so comparatively small at the time, the Palace Theatre, Redditch still thrills audiences today.That it has survived at all is something of a miracle. It was soon showing a mix of theatre and films (an “Art House” of its day) but, by 1929, it had gone fully over to cinema. It closed altogether in 1939 (in common with many other similar venues) at the outbreak of war. It reopened in 1940 and, by the end of the year was mainly running theatrical shows. However, by 1954, competition from the new medium of BBC TV had taken its toll, forcing its closure. In 1955 it reopened as a Roller Rink – raked floor gone and stage modified to suit the building’s new role. Even this didn’t last long. By 1959 it was a Dance Hall and in the late 1960s it became a Bingo Hall.
However, in 1967 it fell into the hands of the local council, who had the presence of mind to refit the the building once again as a theatre. Since then, although at times it has faltered, it appears to have gone from strength to strength. Much work has been done (including the new foyer in 2005) to restore what is now a Grade II listed building.
Read more on the Palace Theatre website.
Photograph Details:
- Taken: 8 Jan 2018
- Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10 MkIIA
- Lens: Olympus 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6
- Focal Length 14mm
- F/3.5
- 1/100 Sec
- ISO 200