Palace (Bridport)

• Theatre ID
  549
• Built / Converted
  1926
• Dates of use
  • 1926 - 1998
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  disused
• Address
  High Street, Bridport, Dorset, England

Details

The Palace, which was opened in 1926 was the brainchild of local Brewery owner J C Palmer. He was interested in the local operatic society, but realising that he could not fill a theatre six nights a week in Bridport, equipped the building as a cinema with stage and dressing rooms. The simple auditorium was rather archaic in architectural design, but was enlivened some time after 1936 with murals of rural scenes painted by local artist George Biles (who painted almost all of Palmer's Pub signs). The murals in the Foyer are all that is left of his work at the Palace, the auditorium walls having been painted out. J C Palmer’s dream of a small opera house was realised every April when the local Operatic Society took the Palace over for its annual production. A very successful pantomime ran every January from 1950. In 1999, the Palace closed as structural work was deemed necessary. A Friends group was immediately formed with a view to raising money for the necessary works in order to re-open. The building was at this time spot-listed.

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• Other names
  Electric Palace Cinema
• Events
  • 1926 - 1998 Use:
  • 1926 Design/Construction:
    • Frederick Cooper & Sons (Bridport) - Architect
  • 1926 Design/Construction:
    • Walterdaw Ltd - Consultant: Stage And Projection Equipment
    • George Biles - Consultant: Murals
  • 1926 Owner/Management: J C Palmer, owner
  • 1940 - 1941 Owner/Management: Dorchester Cinema Co, lessees
  • 1970 Owner/Management: Myles Byrne, lessee
  • Owner/Management: Wischusen, lessee
  • 1992 Owner/Management: Barry Kavanagh & Mike Vickers, lessees
  • 1994 Owner/Management: Mike Vickers (after Barry Kavanagh’s death), lessee
• Capacities
  • Original: 543
  • Current: 407
• Listings
  • Grade II - Listed 1999
• Stage type
  • Rake 1:35 Backstage crossover
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 10.67m Width SL: 1.52m SR: 1.52m
  • Proscenium width: 9.15m x 5.5m
  • Height to grid: 9.15m
  • Orchestra pit: None. 20 musicians accommodated stalls level 7.62m x 1.52m