Page 29 - The Palace @ 100

New Town, New Owners

In 1964, Redditch was designated a “New Town” and
the Redditch Development Corporation formed to
manage its expansion. 1967 the Development
Corporation bought the Palace and handed it over to
Redditch Urban District Council. Redditch Development
Council - Department
of Architecture and
By 1970 the fate of the Palace was more or less
Planning - Palace
settled. Multi-Entertainment Centres were now being
Theatre - Interim
thought of in other areas and with Redditch being a
Report:
developing ‘new’ town it was decided to refit the Palace
for theatrical use.
‘On 19th February

It was refurbished and a three-storey extension built to 1969, the Board
the right of the original front (which was on Alcester considered alternative
Street) , with a new entrance around the corner on ways of using the Palace
Grove Street. Theatre, first as a
temporary replacement
for the Kingfisher Hall,
The Palace Theatre was re-opened on 11th
September 1971, when Sir Edward Thompson handed and later as a theatre
over the building as a gift to the people of Redditch. with a raked floor. The
The opening ceremony was carried out by Mr Peter Board accepted scheme
‘B’ which involved the
Walker MP, the Secretary of State for the Environment
demolition of the
and MP for Worcester, on the 11th September 1971.
The first show was called ‘Between the Bars’, featuring adjoining shop and the
that master musician, Donald Swann. Still retaining building of new foyers,
the Palace name it became a multi purpose venue, stairs, cloakrooms and
mainly used by amateurs with occasional professional lavatories, bars and box
tours. office, as a cost of
£35,000 - £45,000,
subject to detailed
survey of the premises.’

1960s
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