Page 40 - The Palace @ 100
P. 40

At Last, Fit For Purpose



                                             The  new  glass  fronted  foyer  highlights  the  Theatre's
                                             position on the Alcester Street streetscape. Visitors are
                                             able to enjoy the new spacious foyers and bar area and
                                             a  lift  has  been  installed  to  help  infirm  and  disabled
                                             patrons to reach all levels of the building. The Alcester
                                             Street frontage was restored to match the Bertie Crewe
                                             original with all outfacing windows being replaced with
                                             beautiful  stained  glass,  and  floodlighting  being
                                             reinstated using four large luna Arc lamps.


                                             After  the  refit,  Redditch's  historic  Edwardian  Theatre
                                             opened its doors to the public with a feast of fabulous
                                             entertainment.  The  first  major  production  after  re-
            Lynda  Baker  (nee               opening was the 2006 Christmas Family Pantomime,
          Cash) Remembers….                  ‘Peter Pan’ , produced by Paul Holman Associates and
                                             starring David Griffin.
          “In  1971  when  the
          Palace  reopened,  it
          was    decided      local
          Amdram groups would
          provide     their    own
          Front  of  House  and
          back stage staff.  I was
          17 at the time.....one of
          the  architects  who
          worked       on       the
          renovation was also a
          member  of  our  group
          and he asked my friend
          Dawn and myself if we               The new lighting & sound desks overlooking the
          would  like  to  work               auditorium.       Below, the new dressing rooms.
          FOH  for  professional
          shows  we  went  along
          on the first show which
          I recall was Julie Felix.
          I stayed and remained
          a  volunteer  for  34
          years      until      the
          refurbishment          in
          2005.”





                                                                                                       2010s
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