Palace Theatre, Swansea
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2020) |
The Pavilion The Empire | |
Grade II listed | |
Capacity | 600+ |
---|---|
Current use | Disused |
Construction | |
Opened | 1888 |
Closed | 2006 |
Architect | Bucknall & Jennings |
Website | |
http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/how-we-help/theatres-at-risk/223-swansea-palace |
The Palace Theatre is a
History
Originally built in 1888 as a traditional music hall, the building was known as The Pavilion from 1883 to 1892, The Empire from 1892 to 1900, and then as The Palace in 1900 after a takeover by William Coutts, who also operated the city's Shaftesbury Hall, which was known as Swansea's "home of dancing" at the time.[4] From 1912 it was known as the People's Bioscope Palace, bioscope being an early term for moving picture technology.
In the early years of the 20th century, stars such as
The building is one of just two purpose-built music halls left standing in the whole of the UK,
The venue later operated as a bingo hall, and as a private gay club.[4] The ground-floor bar and lounge was also used as a licensed pub for many years, before closing in 2006. Eventually the theatre was sold for £300,000 to a property company, but in 2010 it was still derelict and actor Edward Fox joined a campaign to have it restored.[7]
New campaign
In October 2013 the BBC reported on issues with the building. The Theatres Trust warned that the building "may fall down" if it did not receive any investment,[8] Swansea Council cabinet member for regeneration Nick Bradley told the BBC that renovation would be very expensive, and as a result any Council or Government intervention was unlikely.[8] He warned that regarding costs of redevelopment, "£1m wouldn't even touch it."[8]
In 2014, a new campaign for redevelopment of the site was launched on Facebook.[9]
In April 2014 Swansea Council made £75,000 available to the owners to carry out work on the High Street theatre,
In 2018 the derelict theatre was identified as having become "at the hub of the city's street sex trade", after residents of High Street complained that they were no longer able to walk past the building in safety.[12]
In July 2019 the future of the theatre was discussed as part of a public "Emergency Summit", organised by Swansea Council, South Wales Police, Geraint Davies MP, and voluntary sector organisations. The summit was prompted by a spate of incidents in the city including an assault on 20 July on High Street which saw the death of a 54-year-old man.[13] Swansea Council stated that it was yet to secure a development partner for the then privately owned Theatre.[14] According to the Theatres Trust it remained "in a poor state of repair and extremely vulnerable", although developments "provided hope that a viable solution, which includes community use and preserves the main body of the auditorium, could be found".[3]
In September 2019 the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called out to the theatre amid reports of smoke coming from the ground and fourth-floor windows of the building.[3] Responders dealt with a fire, but did not initially comment on whether the incident was suspicious.[15] In late 2019 and early 2020 a plan emerged to save the former theatre, which would see it transformed into offices with community and performance space provided.[16] As of 2022, the building is still undergoing restoration under this plan.
References
- ^ "Listed Buildings in Swansea". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk.
- ^ "Swansea Pavilion; Empire Music Hall; Palace Theatre, High Street, Swansea (31846)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ a b c Comerford, Ruth (10 September 2019). "Palace Theatre in Swansea hit by suspected arson attack". The Stage. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Dalling, Robert (7 March 2019). "The 28 old cinemas that once thrilled the people of Swansea". WalesOnline. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ "Swansea Palace". Theatres Trust. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ "Oldest theatre under hammer". BBC News. 26 November 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ Turner, Robin (7 August 2010). "Edward Fox bid to save historic Palace where Charlie Chaplin played". WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ a b c "Fear over historic theatre collapse". BBC News. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- Facebook
- ^ Williams, Nino (9 June 2020). "Hoardings go up as work to transform Swansea's Palace Theatre finally begins". WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Funding offer to help owners save Palace Theatre in Swansea". South Wales Evening Post. 8 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ Bellis, Katie (8 March 2018). "What it's like to live on Swansea's most notorious street". WalesOnline. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ Bellis, Katie (20 July 2019). "Man due in court after 54-year-old left critically ill in hospital". WalesOnline. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ Youle, Richard (31 July 2019). "'Emergency summit' to take place to sort out Swansea's High Street". WalesOnline. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ Williams, Kathryn (8 September 2019). "Live updates as Swansea's Palace Theatre is on fire". WalesOnline. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ Williams, Nino (18 November 2020). "The massive task ahead to refurbish Swansea's Palace Theatre". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
External links
- Theatre in Wales: The Palace
- Pavilion Repertory Theatre (new name for "The Palace")