Palace Theatre, Swansea

The Palace Theatre stands at the northern end of Swansea’s High Street. Its sharp wedge shape makes it easy to spot among the city’s buildings. Built in 1888 as a music hall, it has carried names like The Pavilion and The Empire before becoming The Palace in 1900. William Coutts, who also ran Shaftesbury Hall, took it over and gave it the title it still carries. The theatre once showed Wales’ first silent film and survived the Second World War bombing that flattened much of Swansea. Stars once filled its stage: Lilly Langtry, Marie Lloyd and Dan Leno appeared there early in the 20th century. Charlie Chaplin performed at the age of ten in 1899. Sir Anthony Hopkins made his first professional stage appearance in 1960 with Swansea Little Theatre. The building later became a bingo hall, a private club and even a pub before falling into disuse. By 2010 it was derelict, and actor Edward Fox joined a campaign to save it. The theatre reopened in 2024 after a five-year renovation. It now houses offices alongside community and performance spaces run by Tramshed Tech. The restoration aimed to preserve the main auditorium while adding modern use. The wedge-shaped exterior remains unchanged, keeping its place in the city’s skyline.