Palace Theatre
The Palace
The Palace Theatre as seen from the station of Kilmarnock bus station
Map
Full nameThe Palace Theatre and Grand Hall Complex
Former namesThe Corn Exchange, Variety Theatre, Palace Picture House, Exchange Theatre
Address9 Green Street
Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire
Scotland
Coordinates55°36′35″N 4°29′40″W / 55.6096°N 4.4944°W / 55.6096; -4.4944
OwnerEast Ayrshire Leisure, on behalf of East Ayrshire Council
TypeEntertainment arena
Genre(s)Comedy, pantomime, musical theatre and performing arts
Seating type500 seating capacity
Capacity500 seated, approx 200 standing
Construction
BuiltEarly 1860s
Opened16 September 1863 (1863-09-16)
Years active1863–present
ArchitectJames Ingram
Website
Palace Theatre
Listed Building – Category A
Official nameGreen Street, Palace Theatre, Former Corn Exchange
Designated3 July 1980
Reference no.LB35903

The Palace Theatre & Grand Hall Complex is a multi-purpose entertainment arena complex in Green Street, Kilmarnock, Scotland. The structure, which was originally opened as a corn exchange, is a Category A listed building.[1]

History

In the mid-19th century, a group of local businessmen formed a company, The Corn Exchange Company, to finance and erect a corn exchange for the town.[2] The site they selected on Green Street had originally been a public bleaching green before being occupied by the local fish market.[1]

The building was designed by James Ingram in the Italianate style, built in red sandstone and was officially opened on 16 September 1863.[3][4] The design involved an asymmetrical main frontage on the corner of London Road and Green Street. It featured a four stage tower, known as the "Albert Tower", at the corner with wings of nine bays extending down London Road and of thirteen bays extending down Green Street.[1] The tower featured three round headed doorways in the first stage, three round headed windows with architraves, keystones and a balcony in the second stage, the burgh coat of arms and a cornice inscribed with the motto "The Earth is the Lords and the Fullness Thereof" in the third stage, and a belfry in the fourth stage, all surmounted by a dome. The wings were fenestrated by segmental headed windows on the ground floor and by round headed windows with architraves and keystones on the first floor. At roof level, the wings were surmounted by balustraded parapets which were decorated by urns.[1]

The building was extended along London Road by extra eight bays to a design by Robert Ingram in 1886.[1] The use of the building as a corn exchange declined significantly in the wake of the Great Depression of British Agriculture in the late 19th century,[5] and it was therefore converted into a music hall in 1903.[6][7]

In the 1940s, extensive internal alterations were carried out to a design by Gabriel Steel create the Grand Hall.[1] The glam rock band The Sweet wrote their song "The Ballroom Blitz" about an incident, in January 1973, when they were bottled off the stage during a performance in the building.[8] After a serious fire in 1979, the building was restored and re-opened by Billy Connolly in August 1985.[9][10] In 2022, the Grand Hall hosted an episode of the 2022 BBC New Comedy Award.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Historic Environment Scotland. "Green Street, Palace Theatre, Former Corn Exchange (Category A Listed Building) (LB35903)". Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. ^ The Dramatic Year Book for 1891; An Annual Chronicle of the Drama in Great Britain, France, United States of America and Australasia, and Stage Directory for the United Kingdom. Trischler. 1892. p. 422.
  3. ^ "The Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock - Future Museum South West Scotland". 8 August 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  4. ^ Glendinning, Miles (2019). History of Scottish Architecture. Edinburgh University Press. p. 574. ISBN 978-1474468503.
  5. ^ Fletcher, T. W. (1973). 'The Great Depression of English Agriculture 1873-1896' in British Agriculture 1875-1914. London: Methuen. p. 31. ISBN 978-1136581182.
  6. ^ Beattie, Frank (2012). Kilmarnock Through Time. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1445629063.
  7. ^ Beattie, Frank (2017). Kilmarnock The Postcard Collection. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1445670355.
  8. ^ Trust, East Ayrshire Leisure (6 March 2019). "Palace Theatre". East Ayrshire Leisure Trust. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Billy Conolly Unveiling the Plaque Declaring the Palace Theatre Open in 1985". Future Museum. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Palace Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  11. ^ "BBC New Comedy Awards 2022, Episode 4 - Kilmarnock". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
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