Palace Theatre

The Palace Theatre is a major venue for the big West End musical ("Les Miserables", "Cats", "Miss Saigon", etc), with notoriously long and successful runs. The Palace made its grand opening on 18th May 1891 to a capacity audience who were treated to the ballet "Cleopatra" - however, its initial 'highbrow' presentations failed to gain popular support and it struggled to make a profit for several years. Then, bowing to the inevitable economic pressures, it introduced a less elitist repertoire and broadened its scope to include more popular performers, which was a resounding success. During the earlier part of the 20th century it came into its own with artists such as Danny Kaye, Gracie Fields, Charles Laughton, Judy Garland, Noel Coward and Laurel & Hardy stepping across its boards.In the 1970s, it suffered the depression which bedeviled many theatres, like its main rival the Opera House, failing to attract audiences in the wake of the spread of television into most people's homes.
Constantly threatened with closure until the Arts Council stepped in to back it in the 1980s, and after considerable internal refurbishment and an enlarged stage facility, it was run by a charitable trust, Norwest Holdings, which runs it today. It is now one of the best equipped and popular theatres outside London, and record breaking crowds now throng to see its shows. The Palace is a well established Manchester venue, and tickets need advance booking - for popular shows several months ahead is recommended. It also produces Christmas Pantomimes, (a Great British tradition), with famous television personalities in leading roles, and also invites major celebrities to present shows (the likes of Victoria Wood, Les Dawson and Morecambe & Wise have appeared there). It also stages operatic and ballet performances. Prices range from around £30.00 to £5.00, depending on seat and event.