Palace Theatre | |
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General information | |
Type | Theatre |
Address | Palace Avenue, Paignton, TQ3 3HF |
Town or city | Paignton, Devon |
Country | England |
Website | |
www |
The Palace Theatre is a theatre in Paignton, Devon, England. It was built in 1890 and is the oldest working theatre in Torbay. It has been owned and run by Torbay Council or its predecessor organisations since 1920. The theatre underwent a major refurbishment in 2005 and has a seating capacity of 380.
The Palace Theatre was originally an 800-seat hall for public use that opened in 1890. It was built by The Public Hall Company under managing director A. W. Axworthy, possibly as a reaction to the success of the small Gerston Theatre which had been opened as part of the Gerston Hotel in 1870 by Arthur Hyde Dendy. In 1919 an American-run film company, named Torquay and Paignton Photo-play Productions planned to buy out the Public Hall Company with the intention of building its film studios on the site of the hall to make "clean pictures for clean-minded people". This did not proceed, however, and the hall was bought by Paignton Council in 1920 after its attempt the year before which had fallen through because a price could not be agreed. [1]
By 1941 the theatre had been renamed as The Garrison Theatre when the Paignton Pantomime Company (formed 1935) presented Aladdin there in that December. [1] That group, now known as Paignton Pantomime Productions, still performs pantomimes in December and January every year. [2] Other groups performing there in the 1940s were the West of England Players, the Torbay Amateur Operatic Society and Herman Darewski and his Orchestra. It was renamed again in 1948 as the "Palace Avenue Theatre" and after refurbishment put on summer shows for several years. [1] The Palace Theatre took over from the Festival Theatre as the main theatre in Paignton in 1998, on the Festival Theatre's conversion to a cinema.
The Friends of the Palace Theatre are 1,000 plus people who care for the Palace Theatre and its future. They support the theatre by raising awareness of its place in the community by promoting its productions and by raising funds for its continual improvement.
Torbay Acting Factory (TAF) is a youth theatre group specialising in theatre, song, dance and acting for young people. Its rehearsals take place in the theatre arena space and their performances take place on the main stage at the venue. TAF was owned and managed by the Palace Theatre until April 2016 when it was taken over by Doorstep Arts Theatre Company which uses the same spaces.
Bijou Theatre Productions, a Theatre Club that has an audience membership, produces four productions at the theatre per year. The aim is to promote good quality drama and provide community theatre. The Robert Owen Foundation operates from within the theatre and is a creative platform for people to express their artistic side. Some of their work is on display in the theatre.
Torquay is a seaside town in Devon, England, part of the unitary authority area of Torbay. It lies 18 miles (29 km) south of the county town of Exeter and 28 miles (45 km) east-north-east of Plymouth, on the north of Tor Bay, adjoining the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay and across from the fishing port of Brixham.
Torbay is a borough and unitary authority in Devon, south west England. It is governed by Torbay Council and consists of 62.87 square kilometres (24.27 sq mi) of land, including the resort towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, located on east-facing Tor Bay, part of Lyme Bay on the English Channel. A popular tourist destination, Torbay's sandy beaches, mild climate and recreational and leisure attractions have given rise to its nickname of the "English Riviera".
Paignton is a seaside town on the coast of Tor Bay in Devon, England. Together with Torquay and Brixham it forms the borough of Torbay which was created in 1998. The Torbay area is a holiday destination known as the English Riviera. Paignton's population in the United Kingdom Census of 2011 was 49,021. It has origins as a Celtic settlement and was first mentioned in 1086. It grew as a small fishing village and a new harbour was built in 1847. A railway line was opened to passengers in 1859 creating links to Torquay and London. As its population increased, it merged with the villages of Goodrington and Preston. Paignton is around 25 miles (40 km) north east of Plymouth and 20 miles (32 km) south of Exeter, and has the fourth largest population in Devon.
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