Alexandra Palace Theatre (London, Great Britain)
Alexandra Palace Theatre
Hidden from the world for 80 years, this once sleeping giant has been reawakened for a new generation to discover. From theatre, opera and dance to comedy, concerts and cinema – Alexandra Palace Theatre’s programme stays true to the eclectic spirit of the Victorians who built it.
The story of Alexandra Palace Theatre is truly unique. Opened in 1875, the Theatre was a place of spectacle and delight where audiences of up to 3,000 people were entertained by pantomime, opera, drama and ballet. A feat of Victorian engineering, the impressive stage machinery was designed so that performers could appear, fly into the air and disappear through the stage.
However, it struggled to compete with the might of the West End and the theatre went on to be used as a cinema, a chapel and the home of music hall stars before a spell as a BBC prop store and workshop. For 80 years it has been closed to the public, a hidden gem perched high above the city.