Palace

Built as a ciné-variety house in 1910, originally with an ornate street front. Present façade two storey, probably of 1937, but now with the brickwork rendered over; plain canopy, big windows above and coat of arms to right, all appropriately dull, to suit its dreary name, recently changed, of Civic Theatre (which it had been since 1956).

Single end balcony with panelled front. Square proscenium flanked by splayed walls with ornamental grilles. Ceiling divided by beams supported on massive ornamental brackets. Small stage with low grid. Twelve dressing rooms.

Quite pleasing of its kind and still capable of some technical improvement, but nothing can be done to increase seating capacity, which severely limits the quality and size of shows that can be booked. There can be little doubt that the Grand would have been a better choice for a municipal theatre, having been originally designed to house professional touring drama.