Events at Palace Theatre Southend

The Palace Theatre Southend is an Edwardian era music hall that is now used as one of the town's most important performance venues. It retains many of its original fixtures and fittings, which include a rather grand, sweeping staircase that carries theatregoers up to the circle seating area in style. Other architectural features, which date back to when it was finished in 1912, include the pretty regency-style domes that sit over the theatre's boxes. After a series of short closures in the last few decades, the theatre reopened in 2003 under the same management of the nearby Cliffs Pavilion. The theatre now focuses on staging smaller scale national tours, occasional cinema nights and hosting some household names who use the stage to put on one-night-only shows.

A traditional staging area, the Palace Theatre has a proscenium arch and there are billboard frames on it, which are exquisitely decorated. The theatre is located on the A13 trunk road that connects Southend-on-Sea to London, about a mile from the town's main railway station. In fact, the Palace Theatre is located in Westcliff-on-Sea, which is one of Southend's many suburbs. During the mid-20th century, the theatre was a favourite of touring ballet ensembles and repertory companies. The Palace Theatre is now home to the 100-seater Dixon Studio, as well as its main auditorium. Here, it is possible to see smaller scale theatrical productions, stand-up comedy acts and children's theatre.

Palace Theatre Southend tickets

As well as a regular lineup of well-known touring acts, such as the comedian Joe Pasquale, the Palace Theatre Southend is used to show movies. These tend not to be the latest releases, but a selection of award-winning films that have previously been on general release. Typically, the theatre will show films that have gone on to win Oscars, for example. Additionally, the theatre puts on musical performances – these can be from well-known touring bands and singers, but the theatre will also host high-quality tribute acts from time to time. During school holidays, the Palace Theatre is used to stage child-friendly productions, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, for example. There is always a pantomime production, which is put on over the Christmas period and New Year. Community theatre is also an important part of the programme of events, with local ballet and youth theatre groups using the stage for showcasing their talents. Serious plays are on offer, too, and these are put on in both the main staging area and the studio. Lastly, signed and audio-described performances are available at regular intervals throughout the year.

Other venues like the Palace Theatre Southend

At StubHub, it is possible to find tickets for similar venues, such as the Southend Cliffs Pavilion and Charter Hall Colchester.