Context, Context and History: Stonehouse
New Palace Theatre
Completed in September, 1898, at a cost of £98,000 (£185,000 if you included the purpose built hotel next door) the New Palace Theatre was a magnificent addition to Union Street – the street that then linked the three separate towns of Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport; it was also the first Theatre in the area to be built to cater specifically for the celebrated Music Hall Acts that were filling houses all over the country.
As it stands today, comparatively little has changed in this marvellous entertainment emporium. Its distinctive handmade Italian tiles still dominate its exterior together with the fine, slightly faded, representations of Sir Oswald Brierley’s Spanish Armada pictures. The original wrought iron canopy has been replaced, but I gather that it’s still around and could even be restored some day.
In its 84 year history the Palace has seen a great many famous faces grace its stage; before the Great War, Marie Lloyd, Harry Tate, Harry (Any Old Iron) Champion, Florrie Forde and the Ten Loonies all walked the boards and the later Lillie Langtry Max Miller, Robb Wilton and Dick Henderson (snr) played here; so too did such diverse names as Louis Armstrong, Gracie Fields, Laurel and Hardy and Anna Pavlova the great ballet dancer.
The history of variety of entertainment has however been a chequered one this century; first hit by the cinema then the radio, then winning audiences back by presenting radio stars live – variety ultimately lost audiences in a major way with the advent of television in the 1950s.
Dwindling audiences then saw this magical palace resort to all manner of entertainment in a fight for survival, culminating in an all-time desperate spell when it functioned only as a bingo hall and strip club.
Today of course, its future is still by no means secure, however, the prospect of its closing down for good must surely be unthinkable. Since its extensive redecoration in 1978 the Palace has repeatedly proved itself to be an excellent venue for all kinds of stage production – pantomime, pop, drama and variety.
Plymouth has already lost too much of its pre-war heritage and a place such as this, that has given so much pleasure to so many people, deserves a better fate.
Amateur actors are as important to their art as amateur footballers or amateur artists of any kind – and quite often more entertaining. So let’s hope that the Carmeniens Annie Get Your Gun is a better indication of the Palace’s future than the not untypical revue that took the boards some 25 years ago – starring the glamorous Julie and ‘Funny Face’ Alec Pleon and billed as the most talked about show of the year, it was called Fanny Get Your Fun.
Plymouth As Time Draws On – Chris Robinson (1982)
Some other random facts and quotes collected from old newspaper cuts:
The Palace Theatre turned to Bingo in the 1970s.
The Theatre has seen well over 500 miles of wiring, nearly 500 lights and a 600 sq ft neon fan following refurbishments in 1984, and thats just the light and sound system. It also housed a restaurant in the upper floors, a Chinese bar (with Chinese barmaids) and VIP boxes. Entry for all nights was between £1.50 and £3.
“The coming of the Academy was a much needed shot in the arm for the social life of this city, which has been practically nil since the end of the war.” Patrick Ghillyer (19.7.1984)
Dennis Dicker (Con, Plymstock Dunstone), a former Lord Mayor said: “I was very sad when it ceased being a theatre, like many other people. It was such a lovely old place. Perhaps it will be one again when the present craze for very loud music dies out.” (29.11.1991)
Micheal and Janice Pattemore had a project budget of £750,000 to turn it into a disco. (Feb 1992)
It reopened in October 1992 after extensive renovations following the purchase by Lancashire-born Graham Blow.
