Palace Theatre and Dixon Studio

The Palace Theatre is a theatre in Westcliff-on-Sea a suburb in the city of Southend-on-Sea in the county of Essex, England. The theatre presents a range of performances, including drama, music and both local and national touring companies. The theatre was built by Ward & Ward of London and was opened in October 1912. It was named the "Palace of Varieties" in November that year. In December it was renamed "The New Palace" and a small annexe at the back of the stage was built to facilitate projection for cinema. In the interwar period the theatre mainly presented touring ballet and repertory companies. The theatre and its business continued through World War II, however there were some financial troubles and a period of closure, and a number of companies held the lease of the theatre thereafter. In 1957 the Palace Theatre Club was created with the intention to protect the interests of the theatre and raise funds for it. In 1969 the Palace Theatre suffered a major financial crisis and was closed, however a petition by the Palace Theatre Club led to its reopening in 1970 and the establishment of the Palace Theatre Trust. The theatre received extensive redecorations in 1973, gained the addition of the adjacent building to the theatre as known as the Dixon Studio (named after the chair of the Trust John Dixon) in 1980, and was further redecoration in 1986. However, in March 1999 the theatre was closed again, but was reopened in 2001 under new management. The theatre was closed in 2002 when the management left without explanation, however it reopened again in 2003 under the newly formed Southend Theatres, the result of a merger of the Cliffs Pavilion and the Palace Theatre.