London Palladium
From Theatre Breaks
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The London Palladium
Address:
8 Argyll St London W1 020 7494 5038
Currently playing Sister Act which closes on October 30th 2010 then follow rhearsals and previews for The Wizard of Oz due to start previews in February then open on March 1st 2011
To celebrate the theatre's centenary a series of guided tours are taking place covering displays of memorabilia throughout the building and areas not usually open to the public. The 1 ½ hour tours are currently scheduled to take place on selected dates between 13th October and 29th October 2010.
Speaking to a glittering showbiz audience including Phillip Schofield, Elaine Paige, Jason Donovan, Bruce Forsyth, and Des O’Connor Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “Today’s celebration is about recognising the rich history of this wonderful theatre and the fantastic performers who have graced its stage. It is also about the beginning of the biggest programme of refurbishment and change in the Palladium’s history and I’m delighted to announce the restoration of the iconic revolving stage and plans for the complete refurbishment of the front of house areas.”
Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group have owned and operated the 2286-seater West End venue since 2000.
The main entrance and facade must be repaired, a new box office area created, a new lift installed, and toilet facilities must be improved before The Wizard of Oz opens in February 2011.
Prior to the first performance of The Wizard of Oz - the next show at the venue - in February 2011, the main entrance facade will be repaired and refurbished, a new box office area will be created with direct access to the theatre, a new lift will improve accessibility to the stalls level and toilet facilities will be improved. Meanwhile, the current box office will be converted into three new function spaces.
100th Anniversary of the London Palladium
The London Palladium
The London Palladium opened on Boxing Day 1910, The London Palladium is a 2,270 seat West End Theatre which is located just off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster.
The theatre started out life known as The Palladium - a venue for premier variety performances, it was taken over by George Black in 1928 and believe it or not was used as a cinema for 3 months.
The theatre became known as The London Palladium from 1934.
When Val Parnell took on the theatre as Managing Director in 1945 he adopted a controversial yet successful policy of booking high profile acts. These acts included Judy Garland, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.
Still under the control of Parnell between 1955 and 1967 the theatre was to become the home of the highly successful ITV variety show Sunday Night at the London Palladium first hosted by Tommy Trinder and then Bruce Forsyth. It was this programme amongst other TV appearances that have played a major part in making the theatre one of the most well known in the UK.
In 2000, The London Palladium changed hands to it’s current owners - Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group where it has played host to a variety of musicals like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Sound of Music.
Musicals at The London Palladium
The London Palladium has played host to a variety of Musicals in it’s long history including:
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1991)
- Oliver! (1994)
- Saturday Night Fever (1998)
- The King and I (2000)
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2002)
- Scrooge: The Musical (2005)
- The Sound of Music (2006)
- Sister Act: The Musical (2009) - performances begin May 7th
You can find out more about The London Palladium in the book: London Palladium: The Story of the Theatre and its Stars.
The London Palladium Facilities
- Theatre Tokens Accepted
- Bars
- Five seated meeting rooms
Getting To The London Palladium
Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus Bus Routes: 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 23, 25, 39, 55, 73, 88, 94, 98, 113, 137, 139, 159 Parking: 2 blue badge parking bays in Ramillies Place, 2 on Great Marlborough Street (08:30-18:30, 4 hours max.). Westminter City Council car park at Poland Street. NCP at Kingly Street.
