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Palace Theatre Manchester

Palace Theatre Tickets

About the Palace Theatre

Originally opening in 1891, Manchester’s Palace Theatre of Varieties had an immense capacity of 3,675. Hosting stars such as Lillie Langtry and Charlie Chaplin, it was one of the UK’s most prolific music hall venues. In 1913, the building was renovated under architect Bertie Crew and reopened after seven months with a performance from Harry Houdini. Over the 20th century, it has hosted a variety of events including ballets, concerts and plays.

By the late 1970s, waning audience numbers threatened the Palace Theatre with closure, and it subsequently underwent major refurbishment before re-opening in 1981. The stage and dressing rooms were extended to accommodate companies such as the Covent Garden Opera and Kirov Ballet, and the auditorium and Front of House were restored to their original Edwardian décor.

Now owned by ATG along with its sister venue, Opera House Manchester, the Palace Theatre has established itself as a major receiving house for touring plays, musicals and entertainment. Its present capacity is just under 2,000 and since 1990, productions such as Les Misérables and The Book of Mormon have had their UK regional premieres at the venue.

Plan Your Visit

The theatre is open up to 90 minutes before the beginning of the day’s first scheduled performance.
A cloakroom is in the theatre foyer. Patrons can store bags and coats here during a performance for a small fee.
Upon entering the theatre, visitors may be asked to allow security staff to conduct bag checks. Please arrive at the venue with plenty of time to reach your seat, as there may be queues.
There is a bar on every level of the theatre serving pre-show and interval drinks and refreshments. 

The bespoke Ambassador Lounge package is also available to book when buying tickets online. Please note the Ambassador Lounge is not step-free at this venue.
Rudy’s Neapolitan serves a menu inspired by classic Naples pizza in a relaxed environment. The independent chain’s Peter Street branch is just 8 minutes’ walk from the Palace, making it a great choice for pre-theatre dining. For those who enjoy fusion food, Australasia in Deansgate is also close by, offering Australian dishes influenced by Southeast Asian and Japanese flavours.
Premier Inn (City Centre) is less than five minutes’ walk from the theatre and a fantastic choice for those who want cheap and convenient accommodation after a show. If you’d like a more luxurious overnight stay, try the 5-star Hotel Gotham; located in the Art Deco building that used to house Midland Bank, this characterful hotel is just ten minutes away from the Palace Theatre.

Help Booking Tickets

Tickets can be collected at the theatre box office from 90 minutes before the show begins. Please bring the card you booked with and your confirmation email or booking reference number, as these will help the box office team locate your tickets.
The box office is open on performance days 90 minutes before the show is due to begin.
Customers can contact the box office team by calling 0333 009 6690.
STAR (Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers) are the industry body that regulates the sale of London theatre tickets. When booking from a company you can check their ticket seller database to see if they are registered and conforming to STAR practices. When buying online, you should also check for the padlock in your browser URL bar to ensure the connection is secure.

Past Shows At Palace Theatre

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