How Do You Solve A Problem Like the Palladium?

[stuart]

The London Palladium has long been one of London's most prestigious theatres but has laid dormant for the last few years. Short seasons and one-off performances have kept it but what would solve the Palladium's problems? School of Rock was pencilled in to start early next year but there are now whispers that it too will go elsewhere.

Personally, I think it needs to become a residency house for musicians and entertainers. The Palladium is famous for variety. Give us that back again! Get big named comedians to do 3mth runs rather than 5 nights at The O2. Fly Britney Spears or Celine Dion over from Vegas and put their Caesars show on for 6wks at a time. Heck, even get Ant & Dec in the door for 6mths! If the Palladium got a really strong list of rostered entertainers with high performance values it could become the entertainment capital of the city. Much like people ask "Who's on at Caesar's?" when visiting Vegas, folk should be asking "Who's on at the Palladium" when in London.

What are your thoughts? It kills me every time I walk past this glorious theatre and the marquee is blank.

[d'James]

The Caesar's idea is good. I'm not sure whether you could force a comedian to do such a long run when they can make more money much more quickly. I suppose you could argue that about Caesar's performers too though.

The stage at Caesar's is much wider isn't it, with better sightlines? At least that's how it looks. It's a good idea to keep the variety going. Maybe they should try and convince more TV Shows to film there, like Ant and Dec. Even the live shows of The Voice or Britain's Got Talent?!

[Deleted]

Apr 11, 2016 21:20:41 GMT stuart said:

The London Palladium has long been one of London's most prestigious theatres but has laid dormant for the last few years. Short seasons and one-off performances have kept it but what would solve the Palladium's problems? School of Rock was pencilled in to start early next year but there are now whispers that it too will go elsewhere.

Personally, I think it needs to become a residency house for musicians and entertainers. The Palladium is famous for variety. Give us that back again! Get big named comedians to do 3mth runs rather than 5 nights at The O2. Fly Britney Spears or Celine Dion over from Vegas and put their Caesars show on for 6wks at a time. Heck, even get Ant & Dec in the door for 6mths! If the Palladium got a really strong list of rostered entertainers with high performance values it could become the entertainment capital of the city. Much like people ask "Who's on at Caesar's?" when visiting Vegas, folk should be asking "Who's on at the Palladium" when in London.

What are your thoughts? It kills me every time I walk past this glorious theatre and the marquee is blank.

I've not seen Britney Spears but I have seen Celine Dion's A New Day at Caesars in Vegas... One of the BEST evenings ever in a theatre! There's absolutely no way a show like this could tour. That's what makes Vegas special- all the big shows (like Cirque) are put into purpose built theatres or on purpose designed stages. They're bigger and better than all the rest.

[partytentdown]

Beyond Bollywood.

[jaqs]

I've seen britney at planet Hollywood which isn't as big as the collusium, but still 4500seats.
It's a good idea to borrow that concept and give a residency, or a few in rep but it's probably too small to attract to the big stars (even if fading).

[Jon]

I think if Paramour, the new show from Cirque is successful on Broadway, it could be an option for the Palladium should it transfer