Joseph returns to the Palladium
2021-07-12
After a highly successful run in 2019, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returns to the Palladium in a blockbuster production starring Jac Yarrow, Alexandra Burke and Jason Donovan.
London Palladium History and Timeline
Sergei Polunin Presents a New Mixed Bill
2019-05-28
Ukranian ballet dancer presents a next mixed programme at the London Palladium, including some world premieres.
Pantomime Returns to the Palladium
2019-12-07
The Palladium pantomime returned in 2019, this time with Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The star-studded cast included Julian Clary, Paul O'Grady, Matt Baker, Nigel Havers, and Gary Wilmot.
The London Palladium Opens
1910-12-26
The now famous London Palladium opened its doors to the public on Boxing Day of 1910. The first show was a grand variety bill featuring a number of diverse acts and entertainers. The building was designed by Frank Matcham and was richly furnished in French Rococo style. The auditorium was second only in capacity to the Coliseum, and featured fantastic views from all three levels. The height of the music hall boom meant that this venue flourished.
The home of Music Hall and Variety
1920-01-01
The venue continued to house famous acts, such as Harry Houdini, Gracie Fields, Ivor Novello, Sophie Tucker and Jackie Coogan.
George Black manages the theatre
1928-09-03
The theatre reopens under the leadership of impresario George Black after a short period where it was dark. Black staged large variety shows and also brought big American stars to the theatre. Duke Ellington, Ethel Waters and Louis Armstrong performed on the Palladium’s stage. Black ran the theatre until his death in 1945.
The first Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium
1930-05-22
Despite having started in 1912, the Royal Variety Performance had not had a secure London home. After performances at both the Palace and Coliseum Theatres, the event moved to the London Palladium in 1930, with George Black and Val Parnell. This was attended by King George V and Queen Mary. The event has since been staged at the London Palladium 36 times.
Alfred Hitchcock and the Palladium
1935-01-01
The final scene of the Alfred Hitchcock film The 39 Steps is shot at the Palladium.
The London Palladium is bombed
1941-05-11
A German bomb hits the theatre, smashing the roof and becoming stuck in the ceiling above the stage. Fortunately, it did not explode and the Navy’s bomb disposal team resolved the issue despite it threatening to blow up at any moment.
Val Parnell takes over as Director and General Manager
1945-01-01
After the end of the Second World War, the London Palladium began to once again feature a host of American and British stars. The venue become the home of London's variety entertainment, as stars such as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Gypsy Rose Lee, Benny Goodman, Bob Hope and Judy Garland all enjoyed sell out performances. British performers also began to flourish, with Tommy Steele, Ken Dodd, Frankie Howard, Cilla Black and Ronnie Corbett all entertaining audiences.
Sunday Night at the London Palladium first Broadcast
1955-06-29
Sunday night variety was originally broadcast on ITV from 1955 to 1967, along with a brief revival in 1973 and 1974. The very first showing was hosted by Tommy Trinder with Gracie Fields, and quickly became ITV's most watched TV show. The biggest audience reached was in January 1960 when Bruce Forsyth joined as host, in an evening that also featured Cliff Richard and The Shadows which was watched by over 20 million people. The Palladium's stage revolve was featured every week, as the Tiller Girls and the guests were each featured. The show ran until 1967.
The London Palladium is listed
1960-09-01
The theatre receives its Grade II* listing by English Heritage. It still has many of its original features.
Threat of sale
1966-01-01
Theatre manager Val Parnell plans to sell the theatre to a property development company, along with other theatres that Stoll-Moss owns. Luckily, the Palladium is rescued from this fate by impresario Prince Littler.
Golden Boy - the first musical at the venue opens
1968-06-04
The first ever book musical to open at the London Palladium was the West End premiere of 'Golden Boy' which starred Sammy Davis Jnr. The musical is based on the Odets play of the same name and featured a book by Clifford Odets and William Gibson, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. The musical tells the story of Joe Wellington, a young Harlem man who turns to prizefighting to try and escape his ghetto roots, and finds fame and fortune.
Slade plays the Palladium
1973-01-01
Rock band Slade plays a gig at the Palladium, which is so crowded that the balcony nearly collapses.
Mama Cass and Josephine Baker
1974-01-01
Singers Mama Cass Elliott and Josephine Baker perform at the Palladium at various points over the year.
Barnum opens
1981-06-11
Barnum' features a book by Mark Bramble, lyrics by Michael Stewart, and music by Cy Coleman, and is based on the life of circus showman P.T Barnum. Following a hit run on Broadway, the CY Coleman musical opened in the West End at the London Palladium with a cast that included Michael Crawford as P.T. Barnum, Deborah Grant as Charity Barnum and Sarah Payne as Jenny Lind. The production transformed the Palladium into a circus, complete with a fantastic array of acts and a high wire tightrope across the proscenium which Crawford walked over each night. Crawford went on to win the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
Singin' in the Rain opens
1983-06-30
Tommy Steele's new production of 'Singin in the Rain' opened at the London Palladium where it played for over two years. The lavish production featured an onstage rain tank for the iconic title number, and Steele directed and starred in the production. The production featured a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Arthur Freed, and music by Nacio Herb Brown, embellished from the MGM film version. The Palladium version become iconic, and enjoyed numerous tours of the UK as well as a Broadway transfer.
La Cage aux Folles Opens
1986-05-07
Following the success of the Broadway production, Jerry Herman's 'La Cage aux Folles' opened at the London Palladium, where it ran for only 301 performances. The original Broadway creative team transferred with the show, which included Arthur Laurents as director, Scott Salmon as choreographer, and David Mitchell as designer. George Hearn reprised his role of Albin, with thanks to Actor's Equity, and was joined by Dennis Quilley as Georges. The show was seen as a financial failure, and closed at a loss, which was partly blamed on the AIDS crisis.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat opens
1991-06-12
Andrew Lloyd Webber revived his first ever musical collaboration with lyricist Tim Rice. In an exciting and bold production of the biblical classic, Jason Donovan starred as Joseph in a production that was directed by Stephen Pimlott. The show featured impressive production values, and took home the Olivier Award for Best Scenic Design. Children's entertainer Philip Schofield took over the role of Joseph, as the cast album topped the charts, along with the hit song from the show "Any Dream Will Do" featuring as the UK's number 1 hit single in the summer of 1991. The Palladium production became iconic, and was later filmed in a studio for video release.
Oliver! opens
1994-12-08
Cameron Mackintosh revived Lionel Bart's musical 'Oliver!' at the London Palladium for a record breaking run, directed by Sam Mendes. The production was a lavish retelling of the classic British musical, featuring new dialogue, music and arrangements. Anthony Ward's impressive stage designs were matched by Matthew Bourne's stunning choreography, with a cast that was led by Jonathan Pryce as Fagin. Sally Dexter played Nancy, alongside Miles Anderson as Bill Sikes and Jenny Galloway as Widow Corney. The show was well received and went on to be the basis for a new UK touring production and the later production at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane starring Rowan Atkinson.
Scrooge opens starring Tommy Steele
1995-10-20
Bill Kenwright's production of 'Scrooge the Musical' by Leslie Bricusse played a festive season at the theatre. Veteran performer Tommy Steele returned once again to the Palladium, where he broke the record for the most headline acts at the venue. A plaque was unveiled in his honour in the Cinderella Bar. The production returned to the Palladium once again for the 2012/13 Christmas season.
Saturday Night Fever receives its stage premiere
1998-05-05
Based on the hit film of the same name, the stage musical featured a book by Nan Knighton and music and lyrics by the Bee Gees. The £4million stage production was produced by Robert Stigwood and featured choreography by Arlene Phillips. The original cast included Adam Garcia as Tony and Anita Louise Combe as Stephanie. It went on to win Olivier Award nominations for Best Actor in a Musical, Best Theatre Choreographer, and Best New Musical. Following a hit run at the London Palladium, the show enjoyed numerous UK tours and made a welcome return to the West End in 2004 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.
The London Palladium becomes a Really Useful Theatre, opening with 'The King and I'
2000-05-03
Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Really Useful Group' buys the theatre in early 2000. The first musical to open under the new management was a glorious revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, 'The King and I'. The original cast included Elaine Paige in the role of Mrs Anna and Jason Scott Lee as The King of Siam. The production was extremely lavish and utilised the full extent of the Palladium's features, including the old stage revolve. The production featured new dialogue and new musical arrangements, and ran for over 18 months. After the production ended, the stage was refurbished, and the old revolve removed to make way for more modern technology.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opens
2002-04-16
The world premiere of the stage adaptation of Ian Flemming's 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' creates mass media attention. The show went on to become the longest running show at the Palladium to date, clocking up 1,414 performances and taking over £70million at the box office. The Sherman Brothers revisited their classic film score to create a fine stage musical, directed by RSC veteran Adrian Noble and choreographed by Gillian Lynne. The original production starred Michael Ball in the role of Caractacus Potts, alongside Richard O'Brien as the Childcatcher. Despite the number of celebrity replacements throughout the three and a half year run, it was Chitty herself who captured the audience's imagination, flying out over the audience each night.
The Sound of Music opens
2006-11-15
After a nationwide televised search for a new Maria von Trapp, Andrew Lloyd Webber's new production of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical 'The Sound of Music' opened at the Palladium. Connie Fisher starred as the singing Nun, in a spectacular new stage production that utilised all aspects of the Palladium's stage. Alexander Hanson and Leslie Garrett co-starred, making the first reality-TV led stage musical an overwhelming success. The production, directed by Jeremy Sams, ran for over 2 years.
Sister Act opens
2009-06-02
Based on the hit film of the same name, Alan Menken's musical version of 'Sister Act' exploded onto the London stage. The production was directed by Peter Schneider and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast, with set design by Klara Zieglerova. Following a year long search, the role of Delores was played by 24 year old Patina Miller. She was joined by Sheila Hancock as the Mother Superior, and later by Whoopi Goldberg herself for a limited run. The show ran for over a year, and went on to enjoy a successful UK tour and Broadway run.
The Wizard of Oz opens
2011-03-01
Following the previous success of 'The Sound of Music', the London Palladium was once again home to Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest reality TV search for a star. Danielle Hope won the chance to go 'over the rainbow' and star as Dorothy Gale in this new stage production of the classic MGM film. Lloyd Webber wrote a new book for the show alongside Jeremy Sams, and also contributed new musical material with old partner Tim Rice. The production starred Hannah Waddingham as the Wicked Witch of the West, alongside Michael Crawford as The Wizard. The show was generally well received and ran for 500 performances, taking in over £10million in pre-sales alone. It has since been seen in Toronto, Canada and is now the official licensed version of the musical.
A Chorus Line opens
2013-02-02
Marvin Hamlisch and Michael Bennett's groundbreaking musical based on the real lives of Broadway dancers opened at the London Palladium to great acclaim. This was the first revival of 'A Chorus Line' since the original Drury Lane production, and featured direction and choreography by Bob Avian and Baayork Lee. Based on the 2006 Broadway production, the show starred John Partridge as Zach, alongside the Olivier Award winning Leigh Zimmerman as Sheila. The revival was met with positive notices, but closed after only 6 months.
I Can't Sing
2014-03-05
Created by Harry Hill and produced by Simon Cowell, I Can't Sing! is a musical based on life behind the scenes of the X Factor. Starring Cynthia Erivo and Nigel Harman, I Can't Sing is directed by Sean Foley. I Can't Sing was met with a wave of good critics reviews, but is set to close on 10th May after just a six week run.
Lord of the Dance
2014-09-01
Michael Flatley's epic dance show 'Lord of the Dance' returns to the West End for a limited run. This version has the mysterious subtitle 'Dangerous Games', and tells a tale of good versus evil. Flatley himself is taking a back seat in this production and is joined by 40 young dancers from around the world. Some performances of the Celtic extravaganza will feature a guest appearance from Girls Aloud singer Nadine Cole.
An Evening with Liza Minnelli
2015-09-20
For one night only on the 20th of September 2015, Bruce Forsyth talks to the Academy Award-winning actress and singer about her Hollywood childhood as the daughter of Judy Garland, her showbiz stories and her many career highlights including starring in the musical Cabaret. The interview is then followed by an audience Q and A and a very special performance of a selection of songs accompanied on piano by Liza's musical director Billy Stritch.
Jason Robert Brown concert
2018-04-11
American musical theatre composer Jason Robert Brown is in London for a single performance with a 60-piece orchestra. Music from his works such as The Bridges of Madison County, Parade, The Last 5 Years and Songs for a New World will feature.
Morrissey plays the Palladium
2018-03-10
Former The Smiths’ frontman Morrissey comes to the Palladium as part of his UK and Ireland tour. He is widely considered one of the greatest musical artists of his generation. At one point in the concert, fans climb on the stage and need to be removed.
The King and I transfers from Broadway
2018-06-21
Kelli O’Hara and Ken Wantanabe star in the Broadway transfer of The King and I. The multi-award winning show is directed by Bartlett Sher. Set in 1860s Bangkok, the story follows the tense relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna, a British governess hired to teach the king’s wives and children.
Cats returns to the London Palladium
2015-10-23
Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical Cats returns to the London Palladium due to popular demand. This time soul sensation Beverley Knight takes on the role of Grizabella the Glamour Cat to sing the hauntingly beautiful "Memory".
First pantomime in 29 years comes to the London Palladium
2016-12-10
Cinderella begins previews at the London Palladium, the first pantomime to play at the iconic London theatre in almost 30 years.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Opens
2019-06-26
Celebrating its 50th birthday, Andrew Lloyd Webber favourite Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat plays at the London Palladium for a limited summer run. The show includes all the well-known songs such as 'Joseph's Coat', 'Go, Go Joseph', and 'Any Dream Will Do'. Sheridan Smith steps into the role of the Narrator, Jason Donovan plays the Pharaoh, and newcomer Jac Yarrow dons the colourful coat as Joseph.
Ballet Star Sergei Polunin Presents Solo Programme
2019-05-28
World-renowned ballet star Sergei Polunin, also known as the "bad boy of ballet", presents a new mixed programme at the London Palladium. The dancer is known for being a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet as well as his collaborations with Hozier.
Cats
2014-12-09
Andrew Lloyd Webber's legendary Cats the Musical has come back to London after its original 21 year run. It started at the London Palladium in December starring ex-Pussy Cat Doll singer Nicole Scherzinger, to outstanding critics' reviews. The show is an adaptation of T.S.Eliot's 'Old Book of Practical Cats', which tells the story of the Jellicle Cats and their leader Old Deuteronomy.
Beyond Bollywood
2015-05-08
Beyond Bollywood is bringing the energy of Indian dance to the London Palladium. This dance extravaganza tells the story of a young girl who travels to India to fulfill her mother's dying wish; to save her family's theatre and put on a show of epic proportions.
Dick Whittington comes to the London Palladium
2017-12-09
Pantomime returns once more to the London Palladium! Following the huge success of the star-studded Cinderella, which featured Amanda Holden, Julian Clary and Paul O'Grady, Dick Whittington is the next panto to be billed at the venue. Dick Whittington promises to be packed full of glittering sets and an even more dazzling cast!
The Wind in the Willows blows into the London Palladium
2017-06-17
Rufus Hound stars in the magical musical The Wind in the Willows at the London Palladium. Following a hugely successful UK tour, The Wind in the Willows comes to the West End for a limited run!
Sinatra
2015-07-10
This multimedia concert was conceived to celebrate 100 years since the birth of Frank Sinatra. This ultimate tribute show will intersperse all of Sinatra’s classic hits played by a live orchestra accompanied by dancers with never before seen footage of the man himself.